ATHEX: Bourse holds level gained on Monday

Tuesday’s balanced bourse session at Athinon Avenue left the benchmark virtually unchanged and a slight majority of stocks that headed higher, while blue chips ended up in the red. Following Monday’s growth, the market managed to hold on to its gains as there was no clear direction for traders to take on the day. That could come from the US labor market data this week and the DBRS Morningstar and Moody’s credit rating decisions for Greece this Friday and next respectively.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 1,446.09 points, shedding just 0.01% from Monday’s 1,446.17 points. The large-cap FTSE-25 index contracted 0.24%, ending at 3,511.88 points, though mid-caps expanded 1.05%.

The banks index conceded 0.64%, as National dropped 1.08%, Piraeus eased 0.92% and Eurobank gave up 0.68%, while Alpha grabbed 0.19%. Sarantis soared 4.49% and Motor Oil augmented 2.03%.

In total 55 stocks secured gains, 43 endured losses and 25 remained unchanged.

Turnover amounted to 85.1 million euros, up from Monday’s €81.8 million.

In Nicosia, the general index of the Cyprus Stock Exchange decreased 0.40% to close at 182.38 points.