Autohellas

The majority of stocks at Athinon Avenue posted a moderate decline on Wednesday, as the bourse failed to build on its Tuesday recovery. There was little in the direction of selling but even less action among buyers, so most of the day's reduced turnover went toward bringing prices down.

September began at Athinon Avenue with concerns expressed by traders after the first hour related to the global economy and the fear of stagflation. That led the benchmark to losses of almost 1% and a drop below the 1,300-point mark on Friday.

The stock market could not hold on to early gains Wednesday after deteriorating Purchase Managers' Index (PMI) numbers soured the mood in European markets.

The general index closed at 1,293.73 points, down 0.52%, on a low turnover of €71.7 million. Blue chips dropped 0.61%, mid-caps 0.31% and banks 0.15%

A favorable climate in European markets and investor interest in banks and several blue chips helped the Athens Stock Exchange return to the 1,300-point level on Tuesday.

Despite some selling towards the end, the general index gained 1.18% to close at 1,300.47 points on turnover of €92.9 million. Blue chips gained 1.34%, mid-caps 0.96% and banks 1.77%.

The aggressive selling of banks and other blue chips initially led the Athens stock market to lose as much as 1.8%. In the end, the general index ended up at 1,278.87 points, limiting its losses to 0.62%.

Blue chips lost 0.64%, mid-caps 0.50% and banks 1.19%, after being down as much as 3%.

The Athens Stock Exchange bucked the negative trend observed on European markets Thursday, gaining 0.65% thanks to buying in banks and other blue chips.

The headline index ended at 1,314.31 points on turnover of 87.8 million euros, which was significantly lower than in previous sessions. Blue chips rose 0.69%, mid-caps added 0.44% and banks gained 1.20%. 

Despite anothe negative session, the Athens Stock Exchange managed to stay above 1,300 points and limit early losses that reached 3.22%.

Considering the selling pressures that developed abroad after Fitch Ratings downgraded the US debt, holding on above the 1,300-point threshold can be considered a success.

Traders reverted to profit-taking at the Greek bourse on Thursday, following morning gains, with refineries and industrial companies being at the focus of sellers this time instead of banks, whose index has been in decline all week. Most of the losses were recorded in the closing auctions, with the benchmark ending the session at the day's low.

The last few minutes of the trading session at Athinon Avenue on Monday saw the main indexes swing from gains to losses - albeit marginal - primarily owing to the decline observed in foreign markets, especially at the opening of Wall Street. Traders appear to be waiting for local political developments as well as the outcome of the Turkish elections.

The main index at the Greek bourse cleared the 1,100-point bar with relative ease on Friday, ending a week of gains and moderate trading volume. This last session of the week showed price growth across the board in what was the fourth consecutive day of gains for the benchmark.