The Athens Stock Exchange faced significant downward pressure on March 23, with the market slipping back toward the 2,000-point mark amid heightened geopolitical and energy uncertainty.

The benchmark General Index fell 2.38% to 2,015.61 points, with turnover at 24.7 million euros and a trading volume of 4.6 million shares. The FTSE 25 also dropped 2.34% to 5,107.54 points, while the banking sector index lost 2.58%, closing at 2,169.64 points.

Despite a promising start to 2026, the Greek market has shown a marked shift, with the General Index down 2.68% year-to-date. Technically, attention is focused on the blue-chip index, with the “200” level being tested once again, yet no clear buying signal has emerged to support a meaningful market rebound.

Investor sentiment remains weighed down by the escalating tensions in the Middle East, which show no signs of easing and are increasingly seen as a risk factor. Potential buyers are holding back, keeping positions modest. According to Ilias Zacharakis of Fast Finance, even limited supply combined with an uncertain global landscape makes short-term clarity unlikely.