Stocks in Greece finished the trading day higher on Thursday, with advances concentrated in the Banking, Construction and Travel sectors and the benchmark Athens General Composite ending the session up 0.97%, marking a new five-year high.
Among individual movers, Profile Syst (AT:PRFr) led gains, rising 7.05% - an increase of 0.57 points - to close at 8.65. Avax SA (AT:AVAr) added 4.93%, or 0.18 points, to finish at 3.72, and Unibios Holdings SA (AT:VILr) advanced 4.31% - up 0.11 points - to end the day at 2.66.
On the downside, Ideal Group SA (AT:IDEr) was the largest decliner among notable names, slipping 2.22% or 0.14 points to close at 6.17. Performance Technologies IT Solutions (AT:PREFr) fell 1.73% - a 0.17 point drop - to 9.65, while Gr Sarantis SA (AT:SRSr) declined 1.60% or 0.24 points to finish at 14.74.
Market breadth on the Athens exchange favoured advancing stocks, with 77 issues higher against 40 that fell; 14 stocks ended the session unchanged.
Two stocks hit notable milestones during the session. Profile Syst (AT:PRFr) climbed to an all-time high, closing at 8.65 after a 7.05% gain. Avax SA (AT:AVAr) reached a five-year high, finishing at 3.72 following its 4.93% advance.
Commodities and currency moves were mixed. Gold futures for August delivery were higher, up 1.32% or 53.80 to $4,136.20 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for August delivery fell 1.22% or 0.84 to $67.74 a barrel, while the September Brent contract declined 1.01% or 0.72 to trade at $70.85 a barrel.
In currency trading, EUR/USD gained 0.54% to 1.14, while EUR/GBP was effectively unchanged at 0.86, moving 0.12%. The US Dollar Index futures ended lower by 0.59%, at 100.56.
The session contained a mix of individual stock strength and sector-led leadership, with the banking, construction and travel groups underpinning the advance in the benchmark. Market breadth and the set of headline performers indicate selective buying rather than a uniform market-wide rally.
Below are the session's notable figures and moves:
- Athens General Composite: +0.97% (new 5-year high)
- Profile Syst (AT:PRFr): +7.05% to 8.65 (all-time high)
- Avax SA (AT:AVAr): +4.93% to 3.72 (5-year high)
- Unibios Holdings SA (AT:VILr): +4.31% to 2.66
- Ideal Group SA (AT:IDEr): -2.22% to 6.17
- Performance Technologies IT Solutions (AT:PREFr): -1.73% to 9.65
- Gr Sarantis SA (AT:SRSr): -1.60% to 14.74
- Gold Futures (Aug): +1.32% to $4,136.20/oz
- Crude Oil (Aug): -1.22% to $67.74/bl
- Brent (Sep): -1.01% to $70.85/bl
- EUR/USD: +0.54% to 1.14
- EUR/GBP: +0.12% to 0.86
- US Dollar Index Futures: -0.59% to 100.56
Thursday's market picture combined concentrated sector strength with commodity and currency moves that were not uniformly correlated to the equity advance. The session's gains were led by a handful of stocks achieving multi-year highs, while a smaller number of stocks recorded declines.