National sends index higher
National Bank stocks soared and pulled with them the rest of the Greek market on a day of significant gains for the majority of stocks, especially banks. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index climbed to 2,169.34 points yesterday, growing by 3.12 percent from Monday’s closing. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 20 index expanded by 4.08 percent to end at 1,104.17 points. All but one blue chip stock headed northward, led by National Bank (up 10.92 percent, with a turnover of 86.4 million euros), Alpha Bank (5.30 percent), Marfin Popular Bank (5.26 percent), Hellenic Postbank (4.98 percent) and ATEbank (4.95 percent). Only OPAP fell, giving up 2.72 percent. Bank stocks outperformed as their index registered gains of 7.21 percent. Turnover reached an unseasonably high 231.9 million euros.
