Blue chips remained under pressure, with National Bank losing 2.13 percent, while telecom shares resisted pressures to end slightly higher. The general index ended 0.56 percent lower at 2,717.88 points, slightly off the day's lows of 2,709.95 points, with turnover a low 107.91 million euros, or 36.77 billion drachmas. The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended at 266.40 points, off 1.10 percent. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 229 to 91 with another 42 issues unchanged. Sunny weather is forecast in most parts of the country on Tuesday, with cloud on the mainland from evening.
Showers are likely in the eastern and southern islands during the morning.
Winds north-northwesterly, light to moderate. Prime Minister Costas Simitis brought the congress forward from spring 2002, when it was originally due to be held. Furthermore, it was unlikely that the government would speed up structural changes to the economy after the party congress as local elections were due in October 2002, Xafa added. Finally, the analyst forecast that Greek inflation would slip to 3.7-3.8 percent in August from 3.9 percent in July. SSSB is a member of Citigroup, the world's largest financial and banking corporation.