ATHEX: Stock players differed from bond traders

The benchmark of the Greek bourse posted a decline for a third session in a row on Wednesday despite the slight rise of the banks index and the healthy gains of small-caps. The local market apparently does not share the optimism of debt traders who sent bond and treasury-bill yields even lower on Wednesday.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 727.53 points, shedding 0.40 percent from Tuesday's 730.43 points. The large-cap FTSE-26 index contracted 0.35 percent to 1,898.11 points.

The volatile credit sector saw its index add 0.12 percent thanks exclusively to Eurobank, which rose 3.29 percent. Alpha stayed put, Piraeus gave up 1.23 percent, National fell 1.55 percent and Attica tumbled 6.06 percent.

Lamda Development bucked the trend of most blue chips, as it grew 2.05 percent, followed by Folli Follie (up 1.82 percent). PPC continued its remarkable...