In negative territory, the stock market will have a Christmas retreat, as banking pressures did not allow Athens to remain above the psychological threshold of 1,450 points.
Investors chose to consolidate some of their gains, refusing to take on additional risk and (essentially) closing their portfolios for the year. After all, let's not forget that there are only three sessions left until the end of 2024.
However, all of the above in no way negates the perfectly satisfactory performance in December (+4%), thanks to which this year's return has returned to double-digit levels (+12%), largely restoring investor psychology.
Specifically, in the last session before Christmas, the General Index recorded a slight decline of 0.25% to 1,448.86 points, losing 3.6 points compared to Friday's close (1,452.50 points).
The arc of daily fluctuations was fixed at 10 points (from 1,448.85 to 1,458.45 points), with a turnover of 88 million euros, of which 8.5 million euros related to pre-agreed packages.
It should be noted that the exchange will remain closed throughout the period 24–26 December, with the next session scheduled for Friday, 27 December.
The banking index, which gains at least +20% through 2024, was quick to absorb the gains, closing down -1.51% and 1,275 points.
ΝΒG shares tumbled -3.716% and 7.592 euros, Eurobank shares followed at -1.16% and 2.224 euros, Piraeus shares traded -0.95% and 3.854 euros, while Alpha shares fell -0.22% and 1.576 euros.
In the high-cap index (-0.42% and 3,521 points), PPC shares stood out at +2.3% and 11.8 euros, thanks to JP Morgan's new price target (17.9 euros). Shares of Hellaktor, EVDAP, Viohalco, Sarantis, GEK Terna, Coca Cola and Cenergy gained 1% to 2%, with Titan Cement gaining +1% and returning to the record high of 40 euros. Optima Bank's shares, which premiered in blue chips today, expanded +1.7% to €12.7. On the other hand, Motor Oil shares slipped -1.9% and 20.1 euros, due to the cut-off of the 0.30 euro preference dividend. OPAP-Heleniq Energy also fell by 1%, with OTE following at -0.8%.
