ATHEX: Marginal rise after session of optimism

A day of growth at the Greek stock market very nearly ended up with the benchmark swapping the black for the red, as it closed on Monday with a marginal rise, and the majority of stocks had losses to show for the week's first session. This was still a new 203-month high for the main index, realized with reduced turnover due to the US holiday (Labor Day). It followed Friday's rating report by Morningstar DBRS that raised Greece's outlook from stable to positive, while affirming the country's credit rating at 'BBB.' The Euronext Athens (ATHEX) general index closed at 2,702.54 points, adding 0.04% to Friday's 2,701.38 points. The large-cap FTSE-25 index expanded 0.07%, ending at 6,919.41 points. The banks index advanced 0.51%, as Eurobank grabbed 1.40%, Piraeus earned 0.94% and Alpha obtained 0.87%, while National fell 0.14%. In total, 52 stocks boasted gains, 57 posted losses and 11 remained unchanged. Turnover amounted to €241.8 million, down from last Friday's €261.6 million. In Nicosia, the general index of the Cyprus Stock Exchange increased 0.26% to close at 319.60 points.