Stocks rise for third session
Greek stocks advanced for a third straight session yesterday as buoyed sentiment in European markets helped cheer investors on the Athens bourse. The Athens Exchange’s benchmark general index gained 2.21 percent to 1,748.61 points. Banks outperformed, adding almost 4 percent. National Bank jumped 5.25 percent to 12.84 euros and Alpha Bank rose 5.84 to 6.16 euros. Bank stocks were pushing European markets sharply higher late yesterday as investors looked to an $825 billion stimulus plan to jolt the US economy out of recession. Germany’s DAX was up 4.4 percent, France’s CAC 40 was gaining 3.6 percent and Britain’s FTSE 100 was 2.6 percent higher. Turnover in Athens hit 162.07 million euros, from 101 million euros previously.
