Benchmark up thanks to late blue chip rally

A late rally by blue chips including Piraeus and National offset the losses that the Athens bourse benchmark had been showing up to about half an hour before the end of Thursday's trading, with the rise in international markets also serving to assist in the recovery.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 1,230.55 points, adding just 0.03 percent to Wednesday’s 1,230.20 points.

The large-cap FTSE/ATHEX 25 expanded 0.14 percent to 396.57 points, but mid-caps declined by 0.58 percent.

Eurobank Properties outperformed, posting a rise of 3.85 percent, followed by Piraeus Port Authority (up 3.30 percent), Intralot (2.38 percent) and Titan Cement (2.15 percent).

Frigoglass gave up 3.87 percent, Corinth Pipeworks slipped 2.59 percent and Ellaktor shed 2.32 percent.

In total, 58 stocks registered gains, 61 took losses and 15 remained unchanged.

Turnover amounted to 92.6 million euros, down from Wednesday’s 105.7 million.