Greek Economy Shows Mixed Signals as Summer Sales Begin and Stock Market Holds Near Record Highs

Retailers across Greece are set to open their summer discount period on July 19, the first Sunday of the sales season, offering reduced prices on clothing, footwear, electronics and home goods. The law requires shops to display the previous price from the preceding 30 days alongside the new price, and to highlight discounts of more than 60 % prominently in windows and advertising. Consumers are advised to compare final prices, keep receipts and be aware of the rules protecting them from misleading offers.

Meanwhile, the Athens Stock Exchange closed the day only 0.10 % lower, keeping the General Index within sight of recent historic highs despite a weak international backdrop. The trading session was driven by a sharp rise and subsequent pull‑back in the share of Aktor, which ended at €13.38 after reaching €13.64 intraday. Other notable movers included a new record for Coca‑Cola HBC at €56.20, strong performance by DEI and Helleniq Energy, and mixed results for banks such as Piraeus, Alpha Bank and Eurobank. Overall trading volumes remained robust, indicating continued investor interest in the Greek market.