The Athens Stock Exchange is currently experiencing increased selling pressure, primarily driven by low investor visibility and persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The situation has worsened with attacks on commercial vessels making navigation through the Strait of Hormuz nearly impossible, contributing to a general atmosphere of uncertainty in the market. Speculations surrounding a potential ceasefire seem to be fading, which has compounded the hesitance among investors to engage in higher-risk activities.

In tandem with these geopolitical stresses, the price of Brent crude oil has again reached the psychological threshold of $100 per barrel. This spike in oil prices raises fears of renewed inflationary pressures on the global economy, leading to concerns about potential interest rate hikes by central banks. Such financial instability and inflation fears typically exert a negative influence on stock prices, affecting market performance across the board.

As a result, the General Index of the Athens Stock Exchange has recorded a decline of 1.07%, settling at 2,160.15 points. This reflects a loss of 23 points compared to Wednesday's closing figure of 2,183.44 points, indicating that the market is responding directly to the compounded pressures of external economic factors and regional conflicts. Investors are advised to exercise caution as the situation evolves further within the region and its potential impacts on both local and global economies.