Greek stocks ended Wednesday's session with gains as sector-level buying in Banking, Construction and Travel helped push the benchmark higher. At the close in Athens the Athens General Composite increased 1.45%, marking a new five-year high for the index.
Among individual performers, Austriacard Holdings AG (AT:ACAGr) recorded the largest percentage advance, rising 9.32% or 0.60 points to close at 7.04. Elvalhalcor Hellenic Copper and Aluminium Industry SA (AT:ELHA) climbed 6.90% or 0.30 points to finish at 4.65, while Metlen Energy & Metals (AT:MTLNr) added 6.73% or 2.92 points to end the day at 46.30.
On the downside, Ekter (AT:EKTr) was the session's weakest listed stock, slipping 2.35% or 0.10 points to 3.95 at the close. Performance Technologies IT Solutions (AT:PREFr) dropped 1.95% or 0.17 points to 8.56, and Fais Symmetochon AE (AT:FAISr) fell 1.89% or 0.07 points to 3.63.
Market breadth on the Athens Stock Exchange was narrowly positive with 60 stocks rising, 55 declining and 17 unchanged.
Two names in the session hit notable highs: Austriacard Holdings AG rose to a 52-week high as it gained 9.32% to 7.04, and Elvalhalcor Hellenic Copper and Aluminium Industry SA advanced to a five-year high after its 6.90% gain to 4.65.
Commodities and currencies
Precious metals and energy markets moved during the same session. Gold Futures for April delivery were up 3.69% or 188.89 to $5,309.49 a troy ounce. In oil markets, crude oil for March delivery rose 0.79% or 0.49 to $62.88 a barrel, while the April Brent contract increased 0.56% or 0.37 to $66.96 a barrel.
In foreign exchange trading, EUR/USD was down 0.81% to 1.19, while EUR/GBP was reported unchanged at 0.23% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.24% to 96.29.
Summary
The Athens market posted solid gains led by banks, construction and travel-related names, driving the benchmark to a five-year high. Select stocks recorded strong single-session performances, and commodities and currency benchmarks showed mixed moves during the trading day.
Key points
- The Athens General Composite closed up 1.45%, reaching a five-year high.
- Austriacard Holdings AG, Elvalhalcor and Metlen Energy & Metals were among the top gainers.
- Market breadth was modestly positive with 60 advancers, 55 decliners and 17 unchanged; commodities and FX displayed notable intraday moves.
Risks and uncertainties
- Individual stock volatility: a small number of names posted large percentage swings both higher and lower, highlighting idiosyncratic risk for investors in single stocks.
- Commodities and currency movement: changes in gold, oil and exchange rates could influence sector performance and investor sentiment.
- Breadth remains narrow: although the index advanced and hit a multi-year high, the near-even split between rising and falling stocks suggests underlying divergence across the market.