The Athens Stock Exchange enters the new session on the right side, with buyers continuing the upward reaction, returning above 1,450 points.

However, in order to return to the recent highs of 1,500 points, more "fuel" and higher turnover are required, which is a necessary condition for a return to this year's "peaks".

More specifically, in today's session, the General Index is up a significant 0.96% to 1,457.63 points, gaining almost 14 points compared to Wednesday's close (1,443.74 points).

On the board, now, bank shares are the main "protagonists", with Piraeus and Alpha Bank standing out by more than 2%. Terna Energy and GEK TERNA are also up at least 1%, with PPC following at +1%.

The banking index receives a boost from the green light from the supervisory authorities on the proposed dividends - the first in 16 years -, expanding +1.73% to 1,275 points.

Piraeus' share climbs +2.06% and 3.8 euros, Alpha Bank's share rises +2.25% and 1.6155 euros, Eurobank's share trades +1.48% and 2.063 euros, while the share of National Bank follows at +1.40% and 8.02 euros.

In the high-cap index (+1.07% and 3,529 points), the shares of Terna Energy climb +1.6% and 18.8 euros, amid the scenarios of the deal for the sale of the majority stake. GEK TERNA's shares also benefit, rising 0.9%. Beyond that, shares of Lamda, Viohalco, Sarantis, PPC and OTE gain at least 1%, with Aegean and Jumbo up 0.9%.

As for the mid-cap index (+0.26% and 2,346 points), Intracom Holdings shares stand out at +1.6% and 3.6 euros, with Intralot shares expanding +1.3% and 1.18 euros. At the same time, shares of Techniki Olympiaki, AVAX and Lavipharm are up more than 1%. On the opposite side, Premia's shares are down 2%, as they are trading without dividend rights as of today.