National and Piraeus banks spur Greek stocks
Greek stocks climbed for the first in four days, led by National Bank, the country’s biggest. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) benchmark index added 35.89, or 0.7 percent, to 5,143.93 points even as 34 of its 60 constituent stocks fell, 17 rose and nine were unchanged. The FTSE/ATHEX 20 index of the country’s largest companies climbed 0.8 percent to 2,724.38. The mid- and small-cap indices declined 0.06 percent and 0.82 percent respectively. National Bank added -1, or 2.2 percent, to -47.40. Piraeus Bank, the fourth-biggest bank, added 72 cents, or 2.9 percent, to -25.92. Other share price movements yesterday included the following: Intralot rose 6 cents, or 0.4 percent, to -13.56 after the world’s second-largest gaming services provider said it got a seven-year contract to provide an online gaming system in South Carolina, its fifth US contract. Piraeus Port Authority, the operator of the country’s biggest port, fell 24 cents, or 0.8 percent, to -29.94. Greek dock workers plan to escalate strikes this month against government efforts to seek investors for state-controlled ports. Turnover totaled -421.8 million, of which nearly a quarter was accounted for by National Bank. The Cypriot General Index advanced 0.3 percent to 4.711.32. (Bloomberg, Kathimerini)
