National Bank

Hopes of the Greek benchmark extending its four-week rising streak were crushed on Friday as the session’s stock decline sealed a week of losses that came to 2.99 percent for the main index, while daily turnover averaged 21 percent below last week’s.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 1,161.28 points, shedding 0.46 percent from Thursday’s 1,166.60 points.

Police raided a house in Nea Makri, northeast of Athens, on Wednesday in their search for the men believed to have carried out a 400,000-euro armed bank robbery northwest of the capital last month.

The Greek bourse had an uneventful start to the week, as its benchmark posted negligible losses, the blue chip index remained unchanged and turnover was almost half the amount seen in Friday's trade.

News of the rate cut by the European Central Bank gave Greek stocks a boost on Thursday, with banks benefiting the most, while turnover continued to grow, rising above the 100-million-euro mark.

The Greek bourse’s four-session declining streak came to an end on Wednesday as news of a truce in Ukraine and the prospect of today’s European Central Bank statements helped to buoy up the main index, although declining stocks outnumbered the gainers again. Turnover also continued to rise.

Growing concerns about additional capital requirements for banks weighed on the Greek bourse on Tuesday, as early gains were swiftly wiped out in a field day for sellers. Banks took the worst beating, with their index down 3.28 percent at the end of the day.

The paper note of BGN 2 will be replaced with a coin in 2015, according to Bulgaria's National Bank sources cited by Standart News.

The new coin will be made of two metals just like the BGN 1, but unlike it the inner part will be yellow and the outer circle will be white.

The Athens stock exchange general index rose – but by the tiniest of margins – for a seventh straight day on Wednesday as it hit 1,177.49 points, an increase of 0.01 percent.

The benchmark fluctuated within a 16-point range during Wednesday’s session and even edged up to 1,184.36 at one stage.

Turnover reached 93.25 million euros.

The Athens stock exchange general index headed upward for a sixth consecutive day on Tuesday, rising by 1.56 percent to 1,177.35 points.

This means that the benchmark has risen by a total of 8.36 percent over the last six sessions.

There was a big increase in the turnover during Tuesday’s session.

It reached 92.84 million euros, compared to 44.7 million on Monday.

The City of Belgrade is to redesign its busiest and most neglected looking square next March - ahead of which locals will have an opportunity to see the urban design at the City Administration's Building, and make suggestions.