Stock Markets February 20, 2026

Athens bourse inches lower as telecoms, household and basic resources drag index down 0.09%

Viohalco leads gainers, while Gr Sarantis posts the steepest decline; commodities and FX see mixed moves

By Sofia Navarro SRSR
Athens bourse inches lower as telecoms, household and basic resources drag index down 0.09%
SRSR

Greek equities closed modestly lower on Friday, with the Athens General Composite slipping 0.09% as losses in the Telecoms, Household and Basic Resources sectors outweighed gains elsewhere. Viohalco SA climbed to an intraday high among winners, while Gr Sarantis SA recorded the session's largest drop. Commodity prices and key FX pairs registered mixed changes at the close.

Key Points

  • Athens General Composite closed down 0.09% as losses in Telecoms, Household and Basic Resources weighed on the market.
  • Top gainers included Viohalco SA, Ellaktor SA and Austriacard Holdings AG; key decliners were Gr Sarantis SA, Motor Oil Hellas and Qualco Group SA.
  • Commodities and FX showed mixed moves: Gold futures rose sharply, while crude and Brent oil fell modestly; EUR/USD and EUR/GBP recorded minimal change.

Greek stocks finished the trading session lower on Friday, with sector losses in Telecoms, Household and Basic Resources contributing to a slight retreat in the market.

At the close in Athens, the Athens General Composite was down 0.09%.

The session's top performers on the Athens General Composite included Viohalco SA (AT:VIOH), which gained 2.20% or 0.30 points to finish at 13.96. Ellaktor SA (AT:HELr) rose 2.20% or 0.03 points to end the day at 1.30, and Austriacard Holdings AG (AT:ACAGr) added 1.84% or 0.14 points to close at 7.74.

On the downside, Gr Sarantis SA (AT:SRSr) led declines, sliding 5.28% or 0.80 points to close at 14.34. Motor Oil Hellas Corinth Refineries SA (AT:MORr) fell 2.78% or 1.00 point to finish at 35.00, and Qualco Group SA (AT:QLCOr) dropped 2.78% or 0.16 points to end the session at 5.59.

Across the exchange, declining issues outnumbered advancers, with 57 stocks lower versus 52 advancing and 21 finishing unchanged.

Viohalco SA (AT:VIOH) registered a notable move, advancing 2.20% or 0.30 to 13.96 and reaching an all-time high in the session.

Commodities traded with mixed results. Gold futures for April delivery were higher, up 1.40% or 70.00 to $5,067.40 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for April delivery slipped 0.38% or 0.25 to $66.15 a barrel, while the April Brent contract declined 0.42% or 0.30 to $71.36 a barrel.

Currency pairs showed little net movement at the close: EUR/USD was quoted at 1.18, reflecting a 0.12% move described as unchanged in the session summary, and EUR/GBP was at 0.87 with a 0.10% move also described as unchanged. The US Dollar Index Futures was lower, down 0.18% at 97.68.


Market participants and observers noting these results will have seen a mixed picture at the close: a narrowly lower headline index, specific stocks making outsized moves in both directions, and commodity and currency prices that registered modest shifts.

Risks

  • Sector-specific weakness in Telecoms, Household and Basic Resources - declines in these sectors contributed to the overall market downturn.
  • Concentration risk from individual large movers - significant declines in names such as Gr Sarantis SA could exert pressure on sector performance.
  • Volatility in commodities and FX - changes in gold, crude oil and currency pairs may affect companies exposed to commodity prices or FX fluctuations.

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