After 36 sessions, the general index of the Athens Exchange (ATHEX) fell below the 4,000-point mark yesterday as international pressures continued to force stocks lower.

The index dropped 1.88 percent to 3,925.77 points, with the ratio of losing stocks to those gaining reaching 5.8:1. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 20 index declined by 2.02 percent to 2,086.87 points.

All but two blue chips moved southward, led by Mytilineos (down 4.90 percent), Intralot (3.60 percent) and Marfin Investment Group (3.41 percent). Bucking the trend were OPAP (up 0.89 percent) and Hellenic Technodomiki (0.48 percent).

Technology stocks fared the worst among sectoral indices with a 3.76 percent decline.

Turnover reached 262.6 million euros.