Greek stocks head higher on FBI statement and reshuffle

The FBI’s announcement that it had found nothing to incriminate US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in her emails buoyed stocks internationally, while this, coupled with local traders’ moderate satisfaction with Friday’s cabinet reshuffle, led to gains at Athinon Avenue yesterday.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 580.57 points, adding 1.16 percent to Friday’s 573.92 points. The large-cap FTSE 25 index rose 1.40 percent to 1,531.55 points.

The prospect of Greece’s inclusion in the European Central Bank’s bondbuying program, as presented by the prime minister on Sunday, boosted bank stocks, whose index advanced 3.96 percent. Piraeus Bank outperformed, rising 6.47 percent, and Alpha climbed 4.79 percent.

Among other large-caps, Jumbo grabbed 3.74 percent and Grivalia Properties grew 3.71 percent, as Coca-Cola fell 0.82 percent.

In total, 53 stocks posted gains, 33 showed losses and 23 ended unchanged.

Turnover amounted to 40 million euros, up from last Friday’s 26.2 million.

The general index of the Cyprus Stock Exchange in Nicosia increased 0.14 percent to close at 66.69 points.