ATHEX: Bank stocks rally for a fifth day in succession

Bank stocks rallied on the Athens bourse on Wednesday, as the sector’s index posted gains of 6.04 percent on its fifth consecutive day of growth, while energy chips were also on the rise.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 698.93 points, adding 0.84 percent to Tuesday’s 693.10 points. This is the highest closing level recorded in the last 51 sessions.

The large-cap FTSE 25 index expanded 0.93 percent on Wednesday, to end at 209.44 points.

Eurobank outperformed, advancing by 26.09 percent, with Piraeus Bank a distant second (up 13.58 percent). Public Power Corporation improved by 3.88 percent, National Bank grew 3.50 percent and GEK Terna rose 3.41 percent. Hellenic Petroleum fell 1.28 percent.

In total 48 stocks enjoyed gains, 42 took losses and 16 ended unchanged.

Turnover amounted to 39.8 million euros, up from Tuesday’s 25.8 million.