Stock Markets March 3, 2026

Athens market tumbles as banks, telecoms and household names drive steep losses

Athens General Composite posts a 5.75% decline to a three-month low amid broad selling across sectors

By Leila Farooq
Athens market tumbles as banks, telecoms and household names drive steep losses

Greek equities closed sharply lower on Tuesday, with the Athens General Composite sliding 5.75% to a fresh three-month trough. Losses were concentrated in Banking, Telecoms and Household sectors. Market breadth was heavily negative and key commodities and currencies moved notably during the session.

Key Points

  • Athens General Composite fell 5.75%, reaching a new three-month low.
  • Sectors most impacted included Banking, Telecoms and Household stocks.
  • Market breadth was negative with 123 decliners, 5 advancers and 7 unchanged; commodities and FX also saw significant moves.

Greek stocks ended Tuesday's session with pronounced declines as selling pressure hit multiple sectors, led by Banking, Telecoms and Household names.

At the close in Athens, the Athens General Composite dropped 5.75% to register a new three-month low.

Among constituents, Orilina Properties AEEAP (AT:ORILINAr) was one of the better performers on the index but still fell 0.99% or 0.01 points to close at 0.80. Hellenic Exchanges Athens Stock Exchange SA (AT:EXCr) declined 1.44% or 0.10 points to finish at 6.85, while BriQ Properties REIC (AT:BRIQr) ended down 1.67% or 0.05 points at 2.95.

The weakest stocks on the session included Elvalhalcor Hellenic Copper and Aluminium Industry SA (AT:ELHA), which plunged 12.38% or 0.52 points to trade at 3.68 at the close. Unibios Holdings SA (AT:VILr) fell 11.02% or 0.27 points to end at 2.18, and Ekter (AT:EKTr) lost 10.07% or 0.38 points to close at 3.35.

Market breadth was heavily skewed to the downside: falling issues outnumbered advancing ones on the Athens Stock Exchange by 123 to 5, while 7 stocks finished unchanged.

Commodities and currencies saw notable moves during the session. Gold futures for April delivery fell 4.37% or 232.11 to $5,079.49 a troy ounce. In crude markets, April delivery crude oil rose 8.16% or 5.81 to $77.04 a barrel, and the May Brent oil contract gained 7.67% or 5.96 to trade at $83.70 a barrel.

FX markets reflected a firmer dollar and some euro weakness: EUR/USD was down 0.98% to 1.16, while EUR/GBP was essentially unchanged, moving 0.11% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures strengthened 1.00% to 99.32.


Summary of session dynamics:

  • Major sectors weighed on the index: Banking, Telecoms and Household names led declines.
  • Several individual stocks recorded double-digit percentage drops at the close.
  • Commodities and currency moves accompanied the equity sell-off, with oil rising and gold falling sharply.

Risks

  • Broad-based selling across key sectors could pressure sector-linked equities, notably those in Banking, Telecoms and Household industries.
  • Volatility in commodities and currencies - including a sharp decline in gold futures and gains in crude oil - may add uncertainty for market participants and sector performance.
  • Concentrated large percentage falls in individual stocks could increase idiosyncratic risk for investors holding those names.

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