Greece stocks lower at close of trade; Athens General Composite down 0.43%

Greek stocks ended the trading session lower on Thursday, with the Athens General Composite Index declining by 0.43% as investors reacted to mixed economic data and ongoing concerns about the European economic recovery. The benchmark index, which tracks the performance of the largest companies listed on the Athens Exchange, closed at 1,245.67 points, reflecting cautious sentiment among market participants. Trading volume was moderate, with approximately 85 million shares changing hands, slightly below the daily average for the week. Financial sector stocks led the decline, with major banks losing between 0.5% and 1.2% amid concerns about potential interest rate changes by the European Central Bank. The broader European markets also showed weakness, with the Euro Stoxx 50 index closing down 0.28%, suggesting regional factors may have influenced Greek stock performance. Analysts noted that while the Greek economy has shown resilience in recent quarters, investors remain cautious about inflationary pressures and the potential impact of global supply chain disruptions on corporate earnings.