Stocks advance more than 4 pct
The Athens bourse jumped more than 4 percent yesterday as banks added to recent gains against a backdrop of advancing European peers. The Athens Exchange’s benchmark general index rose 4.14 percent to 1,881.95 points. Banks advanced 5.39 percent, bringing gains in the last month to almost 50 percent. Alpha Bank leapt 8.88 percent to 6.50 euros and Eurobank also outperformed, gaining 6.09 percent to 5.40 euros. Gaming company OPAP and Public Power Corporation (PPC) also ranked among the winners, gaining 6.88 percent and 4.83 percent respectively. Turnover rose to 476 million euros versus 188.2 million in the previous session. The Athens bourse will be closed today and on Monday, in line with other European bourses, due to the Western Easter break.