Positive start to week for stocks
Greek stocks got the week off to a positive start yesterday with buying in banks spilling over into the broader market. The Athens Exchange’s benchmark general index gained 2.61 percent to 2,423.96 points. Banks added 3.82 percent, led by a 5.9 percent jump in Alpha to 9.80 euros. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 20 index increased 3.01 percent to 1,252.77 points. Looking ahead, analysts said the positive momentum may push Greek stocks to higher levels, as sentiment on international bourses is also positive. World stock markets mostly rose after upbeat manufacturing data and positive earnings news from big British banks encouraged hopes that the end of the global recession could be in sight. Late yesterday, Germany’s DAX, France’s CAC 40 and Britain’s FTSE 100 were all trading more than 2 percent higher. Turnover in Athens reached 263.4 million euros.
