Late stock buying helps to boost benchmark

As had been the case on Wednesday, buyers at the Greek bourse stole the show during the last hour of trading on Thursday, buoying the benchmark index higher, albeit on reduced turnover.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 1,138.90 points, adding 1.23 percent to Wednesday’s 1,125.02 points.

The large-cap FTSE/ATHEX 25 expanded by 1.09 percent to end at 378.71 points, though small-caps posted a 0.10 percent decline.

Intralot led the blue chips with gains of 5.46 percent, ahead of Ellator (up 5.07 percent) and Hellenic Petroleum (4.67 percent). National Bank was the only blue chip to sustain losses (down 1.27 percent), while Jumbo and Corinth Pipeworks closed without change.

In total, 96 stocks posted gains, 33 suffered losses and 26 stayed put.

Turnover amounted to 79.5 million euros, down from Wednesday’s 103.7 million.