Modest gains for most stocks

The stock market in Athens shook off the European Central Bank’s statements that kept Greece’s chances of entering the ECB bond-buying program remote, and took the benchmark back above the 820-point mark yesterday. Trading volume dropped below 50 million euros.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 822.77 points, adding 0.45 percent to Monday’s 819.09 points. The large-cap FTSE-26 index expanded 0.18 percent to 2,164.68 points, while midcaps climbed 1.34 percent.

There were huge variations among blue chips, with Viohalco jumping 10.79 percent and Lamda Development ascending 4.49 percent, while Public Power Corporation fell 6.09 percent and Grivalia Properties slid 2.34 percent.

Banks improved 1.26 percent as Eurobank rose 3.36 percent and National increased 3.10 percent. Piraeus Bank lost 0.93 percent.

In total 62 stocks recorded gains, 43 reported losses and 24 closed unchanged. Turnover amounted to 44 million euros, down from Monday’s 56.4 million.

In Nicosia the general index of the Cyprus Stock Exchange advanced 0.60 percent to 75.66 points.