During this critical period, the impact of the pandemic on the global economy and the upheaval in financial markets across the world, have brought on significant changes in our everyday and professional life.
Companies now have to operate under complex and difficult circumstances, while ensuring a safe and effective operating environment for their employees, customers and partners.
Within this framework, the Athens Stock Exchange has put in place a series of preventative measures, fully supporting the initiative of the Greek government and following the guidance issued by health authorities for the adoption of measures to mitigate and contain the spread of the virus.
Following the confirmation of a positive COVID-19 case, ATHEX Group immediately took the following steps to ensure the health and safety of our employees, clients and partners:
- Frequent sanitization of the ATHEX Group premises.
- Immediate application of remote work for 85% of our staff, with the possibility of increasing this percentage by utilizing our technological infrastructure.
To minimize the impact of COVID-19 on our business services and ensure the continuity and stability of our core operations, we have enacted our Business Continuity Management Framework, guaranteeing the smooth functioning of our markets. In the past days, ATHEX Group has taken the following steps:
- Enabling the remote connection of Athens Stock Exchange Members, following two successful mock trading exercises.
- Ensuring the upcoming operation of the Hellenic Energy Exchange derivatives market on the 23/3, following similar mock trading exercises.
- Providing daily updates for our employees and ongoing support and guidance from our HR Department to ensure effective adaptation to remote work arrangements.
During this period of remote work arrangements, our ongoing services for listed companies and the provision of information to investors are continuing through our usual communication channels. Our HE.R.ME.S. II system and our online services, Listing Service Desk και AXIAline, offer safe and remote access to their authorized users, who have also been equipped with digital certifications and signatures (ATHEX Trust Services).
This unforeseen crisis has highlighted the need to utilize trustworthy, reliable and agile technological infrastructure that can support the uninterrupted operation of companies and the Greek capital market.
The Athens Stock Exchange is working with regulators and all relevant authorities, and will continue to respond quickly and responsibly to the challenges and needs of market participants.
