ATHEX: Weekly losses of Athens bourse benchmark contained to 1.74 pct

The positive sentiment in international markets and the near complete lack of sellers at the Athens bourse on Friday after several sessions of losses led to healthy gains for the Greek benchmark and the majority of stocks at the end of a southbound week.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 561.61 points, adding 1.28 percent to Thursday’s 554.50 points. On a weekly basis it declined 1.74 percent. The large-cap FTSE 25 index expanded 1.49 percent to end at 153.18 points, and mid-caps advanced 2.48 percent.

National Bank added 4.82 percent, helped by the approval by the Turkish regulator of the sale of its Turkish subsidiary Finansbank to Qatar National Bank.

Eurobank followed with a 4.23 percent rise, while Ellaktor improved 3.54 percent. Terna Energy declined 2.50 percent and METKA conceded 1.06 percent.

In total 59 stocks posted gains, 30 took losses and 16 stayed unchanged.

Turnover amounted to 44.7 million euros, down from Thursday’s 47.9 million.

In Nicosia the general index of the Cyprus Stock Exchange increased 0.27 percent to close at 67.92 points.