Good news from US boosts index
The euphoria generated by government intervention in the USA and the nationalization of the country’s two biggest mortgage lenders, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, has sent waves of relief across world markets and given a fresh boost to the local bourse. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 3,275.08 points yesterday, a massive 4.17 percent rise from last Friday. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 20 index grew by 5.16 percent to 1,815.87 points. Banks monopolized interest as their index climbed by 7.07 percent. National Bank led blue chips with a 10.48 percent rise, followed by Piraeus Bank (up 7.03 percent), Alpha Bank (6.74 percent), Marfin Popular Bank (5.37 percent) and EFG Eurobank (4.12 percent). The only blue chip to move southward yesterday was OPAP (down 0.43 percent). Turnover reached 312.5 million euros.
