Stock markets faced strong downward pressure during today’s (23 July 2026) session at the Athens Exchange, ending a three-day winning streak. Over those sessions, the benchmark index had gained a cumulative 2.43%. Market unease grew following reports that STOXX would delay upgrading the Athens Exchange to developed-market status—from this September to 21 June 2027. However, it was later clarified that the upgrade—and the associated inflows from STOXX-index-following capital—will proceed as originally planned in September.
Athens Exchange Performance
The General Index closed at 2,456.16 points, down 2.02%. Intraday, it hit a low of 2,433.33 points—a decline of 2.93%. Total trading value reached €414.57 million, with 65.8 million shares changing hands.
The Large-Cap Index fell 2.13%, while the Mid-Cap Index declined 1.01%. The Bank Index dropped 2.49% to 2,784.9 points.
Broader Market Context
A negative sentiment also prevailed across European equities, driven by escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf and the resulting surge in global oil prices. U.S. markets followed suit: as of 8:00 p.m. local time (20:00 EET), the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 515 points—or 1.0%. The S&P 500 fell 1.24%, and the Nasdaq slid 2.14%.
Oil prices soared after Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi Arabian tankers in the Red Sea—raising fears of regional conflict escalation. Brent crude jumped 7% to $100 per barrel, fueled further by U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to strike Iranian infrastructure.