Turnover may have been at low levels due to the holidays, but the Athens Stock Exchange managed to close near the highest point of the day, giving a little... taste to an admittedly "tasteless" session.

Athens is preparing to bid farewell to the 12-month period with an average annual return of over +12%, bringing the cumulative rise for the 2021-2024 period to +80%.

Specifically, on the last day of the week, the General Index rose mildly by 0.59% to 1,457.38 points, gaining 8.5 points compared to Monday's close (1,448.86 points).

The bank index accumulated strength to +0.31% and 1,279 points as the +20% yield through 2024 seems to leave investors satisfied.

NBG shares gained +0.63% and EUR 7.64, Eurobank shares followed at +0.49% and EUR 2.235, Alpha shares finished +0.25% and EUR 1.58, while Piraeus shares declined -0.10% and EUR 3.85.

In the high-cap index (+0.50% and 3,539 points), Ellaktor shares climbed +9.6% and 2.16 euros, as the news of a capital return of 0.85 euros (preceded in July by a 0.50 euro/share reward) offered strong support, bringing the price back above 2 euros (3-month high). Helleniq Energy shares also rose 3.8%, approaching 7.5 euros, while Jumbo, ELVALHALKOR, Motor Oil and OPAP shares expanded by at least 1%. On the flip side, Optima's shares narrowed to -1.4% and 12.6 euros.

As for the mid-cap index (+0.99% and 2,338 points), Intralot's share continued its "counterattack," which resulted in a +2.9% and 1.05 euros. Intracom's shares surged to +2.8%, while Dimand's shares surged to +3.2% and 8.2 euros, indicating a significant recovery. Austriacard, Autohellas, Fourlis, Lavipharm, Quest and ADMIE gained more than 1%. A special mention should be made of Q&R, which jumped +5.4% after the packages "passed" for 7.13% at 1.18 euros.