Bank stocks set stage for another day of losses on bourse

A third day of losses for most stocks on the Greek bourse has taken the benchmark index to its lowest point of the last 17 sessions, with banks again leading the way for sellers.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed on Wednesday at 1,226.19 points, dropping 1.41 percent from Tuesday’s 1,243.72 points. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 25 contracted by 1.51 percent to close at 395.48 points.

All but six blue chips ended lower, as National Bank shrank 4.73 percent, Piraeus Bank gave up 4.22 percent and Metka dropped 4.06 percent. OPAP added 2.10 percent on Greece’s soccer success.

In total 57 stocks went up, 73 suffered losses and 18 closed unchanged.

Turnover amounted to 251.3 million euros, more than twice Tuesday’s 121.1 million.