Athens Stock Exchange: Positive Reaction Amid Middle East Tensions

Despite initial controlled pressures, the Athens Stock Exchange closed with gains on June 23, 2025, countering negative assessments from recent developments in the Middle East involving the U.S. Markets remained calm, defying early panic and sell-off predictions for stocks. Attention shifted to oil prices, whose rally is fading, though concerns persist over Hormuz Strait closures that could skyrocket oil prices to nearly $120 per barrel. High-capitalization stocks surged, particularly Alpha Bank, OPAP, and Piraeus Bank shares. The General Index of Prices closed at 1,818.82 units, rising by 0.93%. Intraday lows were recorded at 1,784.28 units (-0.99%). Trading volume reached €146.73 million, with 28,260,300 shares traded. The high-capitalization index rose by 1.08%, while the medium-capitalization index marginally increased by 0.08%. Among high-capitalization stocks, notable increases were seen in Alpha Bank (+4.62%), OPAP (+3.26%), Piraeus Bank (+2.75%), Titan Cement (+2.51%), Eurobank (+1.94%), Elvalhalcor (+1.73%), and Hellenic Petroleum (+1.53%). Conversely, significant declines occurred in ATE Bank (-1.77%), Coca-Cola HBC (-1.18%), OTE (-0.93%), and Lamda Development (-0.82%). Alpha Bank and Piraeus Bank led trading volumes with 12,208,528 and 4,318,067 shares traded respectively. Alpha Bank also topped trading value at €33.68 million, followed by Ethniki at €25.05 million. Overall, 57 stocks rose, 40 fell, and 22 remained stable.