Athens Exchange

FTSE Russell announced late on Tuesday it has included the Athens Stock Exchange in the shortlist for upgrading, with the aim of returning it to the category of developed markets

Greece will be added to the Watch List for a possible upgrade from "Advanced Emerging" to "Developed Market" status.

Corporate developments regarding GEK Terna and Cenergy Holdings attracted investor interest at Athinon Avenue on Tuesday, but the negative mood from the relative disappointment of world markets about the Chinese economic stimulus affected trade too. Turnover declined but still managed to make the 100-million-euro level, once again having National Bank as the protagonist of the day.

National Bank remains the focus of attention for traders at the Greek stock market, with 62% of Monday's bourse session turnover concerning the lender's stock. The rest of the market did not show any particular buying activity, and only Coca-Cola HBC helped with its large capitalization containing the decline of the benchmark on the day.

The completion of the National Bank stake sale on Thursday allowed for a bourse rebound on Friday, dominated by the same stock that accounted for about half of the day's transaction turnover. That helped contain the week's losses after consecutive sessions of declining prices, with banks and a few blue chips such as Jumbo leading the way.

The state has completed the sale of a 10% stake in National Bank, and the Greek stock market can now revert to its normal mode after a streak of loss-making sessions, with the historic lender seeing its stock price end up level with the stake's transaction price of 7.55 euros on Thursday. Overall the benchmark at Athinon Avenue closed near the day's low after another selling spree.

“The Bank of Greece welcomes the completion of the placement by the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HFSF) of 10% of the share capital of National Bank of Greece,” says the Governor of the CBE Giannis Stournaras, on the occasion of the completion of the placement of NETE.

Greece concluded on Thursday the re-privatization of its lenders with the sale of a 10% stake in National Bank (NBG) amid strong demand from investors, the bank bailout fund said.

The sale raised 690 million euros ($760.93 million), which will be used to help Greece reduce its pile of public debt, the eurozone's biggest as a percentage of economic output.

The escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East into a regional war predictably sent stock prices tumbling across Europe, including Greece, on Wednesday. The fourth consecutive day of decline for the local bourse came on significantly increased turnover, which highlights that sellers mean business.

New liquidations took place today on the Greek stock market, with banks and some blue chips taking center stage. Pressures intensified at the close, resulting in the General Index closing back at the day’s lows, losing critical support points such as 1,430 and 1,440.

Bank bailout fund HFSF has said that it will not accept bids below 7.55 euros per share in an equity offering of National Bank of Greece, citing strong demand by investors.

HFSF is selling a 10% stake in National Bank, the country's second largest bank by market value, through a book-building process and a public offer in Athens which ended at 3 p.m.