National Bank pulls index higher
Stocks on the Greek bourse ended the week on a high note, despite the wave of losses across European markets. The main index was boosted National Bank gains resulting from the positive mood at the lender’s general meeting. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 1,595.10 points yesterday, rising 0.81 percent from Thursday’s close at 1,582.22 points. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 20 index grew by 1.02 percent to end at 771.49 points. A total of 83 stocks moved up, 76 went down and 69 remained unchanged. National Bank led blue chips with 3.24 percent growth, followed by Ellaktor (up 2.30 percent), Coca-Cola HBC (2.26 percent), Bank of Cyprus (2.16 percent) and Alpha Bank (1.93 percent). Heading south were the blue chips of Motor Oil (down 2.20 percent) and OPAP (2.09 percent). OPAP betting agents are set to strike today, on the day of soccer’s Champions League final. Elgeka construction firm recorded the biggest rise in the market with gains of 20 percent, while Epsilon Net went down by 10 percent. Turnover amounted to 113.4 million euros, slightly higher than Thursday’s 112.6 million. National Bank transactions accounted for about one-third of yesterday’s turnover.
