Greek Stocks: Alpha Bank, Eurobank, National Bank, Piraeus Bank

The ASE Index rose 20.97, or 1.5 percent, to 1,440.64 as of 1:09 p.m. in Athens, gaining for a second day.

The FTSE/ASE 20 Index of the country’s biggest companies gained 1.5 percent to 681.27, while the Cypriot General Index advanced 0.5 percent to 1,114.53.

The following stocks are among the most active in Athens trading today. Symbols are in parentheses.

GEK Terna SA (GEKTERNA GA) gained 1.9 percent to 3.22 euros, paring three days of losses. The Greek property and energy holding company purchased 21,000 of its own shares, according to an Athens bourse filing.

National Bank of Greece SA (ETE GA) gained 2.2 percent to 6.63 euros, its second day of gains. European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet signalled that leaders may step up their response to the debt crisis as policy makers get set to meet tomorrow to discuss how to curb the spread of the region’s debt crisis. EFG Eurobank Ergasias SA (EUROB GA) added 2.6 percent to 3.94 euros. Alpha Bank AE (ALPHA GA) rose 3.8 percent to 4.43 euros. Piraeus Bank SA (TPEIR GA) added 3.6 percent to 2.85 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tom Stoukas in Athens astoukas@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Angela Cullen at acullen8@bloomberg.net.