Banks were not alone in pulling the Greek stock market higher on Friday, as almost all blue chips posted gains and took the main index to yet another 14-year high. The rise of the benchmark in these two-and-a-half months so far this year has exceeded 15%, as the local market is firmly on the radar of foreign investors, partly thanks to the strong activity in mergers and acquisitions among local firms and, of course, the new dividend policy introduced by lenders.
The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 1,693.61 points, adding 1.33% to Thursday’s 1,671.35 points. On a weekly basis it grew 4.07%.
The large-cap FTSE-25 index expanded 1.37%, ending at 4,196.13 points and the banks index advanced 1.66%, as Piraeus earned 3.87%, National obtained 1.98%, Alpha grabbed 0.81% and Eurobank rose 0.31%. Sarantis jumped 4.40% and Aegean Airlines improved 3.43%.
In total 77 stocks recorded gains, 28 suffered losses and 19 remained unchanged.
Turnover amounted to 229.1 million euros, down from Thursday’s €243.9 million.
In Nicosia, the general index of the Cyprus Stock Exchange increased 1.04% to 231.29 points.