Buyers made a total comeback on the Greek stock market, taking the “baton” from sellers in the second part of today’s session. Despite the bearish start, the General Index “turned” to gains and closed near the highs of the day, even “flirting” with 1,490 points. In this way, it took another decisive “step” towards regaining the 14-year highs reached last May.

Specifically, in Friday’s (3/1) session, the General Index gained 5.85 points or +0.4% to close at 1,486.83 points. The variance range was set at around 16 points, with the high for the day at 1,490.87 points and the low for the day at 1,474.85 points. Every week, the GD “climbed” by +2.02%.

This is a high of more than seven months, as the next milestone is on May 21 (1,496.35 points). One day earlier (20/5) the high of last year (1,502.79 points) was reached, with the distance from this record being “trimmed” to -1.06%. After these levels, the next peaks of the X.A. can be traced back 14 years specifically to April 2011.

Banks emerged as the star of today’s session, with the sectoral index comfortably returning above 1,300 points. It closed at its highest point since the end of last July. Eurobank extended its 9-year record (November 2015), while Piraeus was a “breath” away from the psychological threshold of 4 euros.

In blue chips, ElvalHalcor stood out with a new strong rise after yesterday’s +6.25%. Lamda Development, Aegean, Viohalco, EHAE (from the mid-caps), and Ekter (from the small caps) also presented a satisfactory picture. Attica Bank deserves special mention, which recorded a “jump” of about +8% and closed above EUR 0.75, with an increased turnover of EUR 1.8 million and a market capitalization now exceeding EUR 1.25 billion.

Athens

No major fluctuations in global markets as investors continue to weigh up the scenarios for the Federal Reserve’s monetary easing and the outlook for the global economy. On the other hand, the Athens Exchange outperformed the rest of the European stock exchanges, which are moving in a downward “channel”. It should be noted that the Athens Stock Exchange will be closed next Monday (6/1) due to the Theophany holiday.

In the spotlight today was Aktor Group of Companies, which yesterday afternoon published the prospectus for the capital increase of 200 million euros, with the issue of up to 43.48 million new shares at a value of 4.6 euros per share. Shares will be traded on Tuesday 7 January without the right to the rights issue.

Aktor’s share capital increase, which was approved at the extraordinary general meeting on 19 November, will be carried out through a public offer with preferential rights for existing shareholders. Each shareholder will be entitled to acquire 0.270853467785515 new shares for each existing share. The net proceeds are estimated at EUR 198 million and the costs of the issue are estimated at approximately EUR 2 million.

Wall Street reacts – Pressure on euro markets

Despite initial signs of recovery, Wall Street held its fifth down session yesterday, with technology stocks at the centre of the pressure. This was the longest losing streak since last April for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. Bullish trends prevail today, with the major indices gaining in the vicinity of +0.4% to +0.7%.

Euromarkets are down, with the Stoxx 600 losing -0.6%. Losses of between -0.5% and -0.8% are recorded by the main indices of the Old Continent, while the French CAC 40 slides -1.6%. Chinese equities are in free fall as sellers “pushed” the key indices lower by -1.5% to -2% after yesterday’s sell-off. In other Asian bourses, the South Korean Kospi gained +1.8%.