SEENEWS – news report of 07.04.2008

News report of 07.04.2008

* Albania *

FIBank Albania Appoints CEO Apr 07, 2008, 15:02 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), April 7 (SeeNews) - First Investment Bank (FIBank), the biggest lender among Bulgaria’s few domestically owned banks, has appointed Bojidar Todorov as CEO of its Albanian subsidiary, FIBank said on Monday. link

Albania Sells 1.15 Bln Leks (9.35 Mln Euro) in 3-yr T-notes, Yields Steady Apr 07, 2008, 13:05 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), April 7 (SeeNews) - Albania sold 1.15 billion leks ($14.7 million/9.35 million euro) in three-year Treasury notes at an auction held last week, as yields remained steady, the country’s Finance Ministry said on Monday. link

* Bosnia *

Bosnian Unit of Serbia’s Komercijalna Banka Turns to Profit in 2007 Apr 07, 2008, 13:04 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), April 7 (SeeNews) – The Bosnian unit of Serbia’s Komercijalna Banka turned to a net profit of 1.943 million marka ($1.56 million/994,000 euro) last year from a loss of 1.878 million marka in 2006, the bank has said. link

* Bulgaria *

Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Daily Bulletin, Selected Announcements - April 4, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 09:01 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews With reference to publications in the State Gazette, issue 36/04.04.2008, and in Dnevnik newspaper dated 03.04.2008, as well as to a decision of the Board of Directors dated 11.03.2008 for an increase in capital of Black Sea Investment REIT-Sofia, BSE code - BSEA, please be informed of the following:- Number of shares before the capital increase: 650,000- Number of shares, offered for subscription: 14,300,000- Number of the rights issued: 650,000- Ratio between rights issued and the new shares (right/shares): 1/22- Everyone may subscribe to at least one new share and to utmost such number of shares equal to the number of the owned and/or acquired rights multiplied by 22.- Lower limit, in order the subscription to be considered successful: 8,000,000 new shares- BSE code of the rights issued: R3BSEA- Nominal value: BGN 1.00- Issuing value: BGN 1.00- Initial date for trading in rights on the Exchange: 14.04.2008- Final date for trading in rights on the Exchange: 24.04.2008- Init ial date for transferring the rights: 14.04.2008- Final date for transferring the rights: 29.04.2008- Date of the Auction pursuant to Art. 112b (7) of the POSA: 10.05.2008- Initial date for subscription to shares: 14.04.2008- Final date for subscription to shares of the increase: 23.05.2008- Investment intermediary authorised to administer the capital increase: Somoni Financial Brokerage OOD- Bank, with which the accumulation account to be opened: CB Allianz Bulgaria AD- The right to participate in the capital increase will be entitled to all shareholders, who acquired shares of the company up to 7 days following the promulgation of the announcement in the State Gazette at the latest, i.e. by Friday, 11.04.2008 (record date).- The final date for transacting shares of this company on the floor of BSE-Sofia, as a result of which the holder will have the right to participate in the capital increase, will be Wednesday, 09.04.2008 (i.e. ex date: 10.04.2008). link

Allianz Bank Bulgaria Sees 2008 Net Profit Up 4.4% Apr 07, 2008, 09:59 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 7 (SeeNews) - Allianz Bank Bulgaria, majority-owned by Germany’s Allianz AG, expects to have a net profit of 20.11 million levs ($16.1 million/10.3 million euro) in 2008, up 4.4% from a year earlier, an official of the bank said on Monday. link

Eurohold Bulgaria Expects to Buy Insurance Company in SE Europe by End-2008 – Media Apr 07, 2008, 10:19 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 7 (SeeNews) - Financial and industrial group Eurohold Bulgaria expects to finalise the acquisition of an insurance company in southeast Europe by the end of the year, Sofia-based Pari daily reported on Monday. link

Bulgaria’s Raiffeisenbank Lends 37 Mln Euro to Winslow Developments, Deutsche Bank Joint Property Project Apr 07, 2008, 13:48 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 7 (SeeNews) - The Bulgarian arm of Raiffeisen International Bank said on Monday it has lent over 72 million levs ($58 million/37 million euro) to local real estate company Winslow Developments and Deutsche Bank’s property asset management arm RREEF for a joint real estate project in the capital Sofia. link

Tobacco Group Bulgartabac Appoints Angel Dimitrov Second Executive Director Apr 07, 2008, 14:51 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 7 (SeeNews) - The supervisory board of majority state-owned Bulgarian tobacco holding group Bulgartabac on Monday appointed Angel Dimitrov as the group’s second executive director. link

Bulgaria’s Sever Holding Plans Five-fold Capital Increase Apr 07, 2008, 14:57 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 7 (SeeNews) – Bulgarian holding company Sever Holding plans to increase its capital five times to some 3.9 million levs ($3.1 million/2.0 million euro), the company said on Monday. link

Bulgaria’s N-Plant Kozloduy Produces 4.5 Mln MWh in Q1’08, 6.5% Above Plan Apr 07, 2008, 15:06 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 7 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria’s sole nuclear power plant Kozloduy produced 4.5 million megawatthours (MWh) of power in the first three months of the year, 6.5% above plan, it said on Monday. link

Bulgaria Gives 30 More Days to Bidders for Concession on Ruse Airport Apr 07, 2008, 17:01 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 7 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria on Monday gave 30 more days to potential bidders for a concession on the disused military airport in the Danube city of Ruse to place their offers. link

Bulgaria’s Marsa Plans To Invest over 22 Mln Euro in Shopping Mall in Haskovo Apr 07, 2008, 17:58 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 7 (SeeNews) – Bulgarian real estate company Marsa said on Monday that it plans to invest over 22 million euro ($34.6 million) in the construction of a shopping mall in the southern town of Haskovo. link

S&P Leaves Ratings Unchanged on Bulgarian Fuel Retailer Petrol Ahead of Expected Sale of Filling Stations Apr 07, 2008, 18:37 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 7 (SeeNews) - Standard & Poor’s said on Monday that its ratings on Bulgarian fuel retailer Petrol, placed on CCC+/negative, remain unchanged following an announcement that the company has agreed to sell a number of its petrol stations. link

Bulgaria C-bank FX Reserves Up 3.1% in Week Ending April 4 - Table Apr 07, 2008, 17:46 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 7 (SeeNews) - The foreign exchange assets of the Bulgarian central bank’s (BNB) issue department totalled 23.927 billion levs ($19.212 billion/12.233 billion euro) on Friday, up 3.1% from a week earlier, BNB said on Monday. link

Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Daily Report - April 4, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 10:23 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Bulgarian Stock Exchange has published its report on turnover and prices for April 4, 2008. link

Karoll - Bulgarian Stock Market Overview - Mar 31 - April 4, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 10:45 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Commentary link

FFBH - Bulgaria Morning Update - April 7, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 11:19 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews MARKET WRAP-UP link

Elana - Bulgaria Daily Report - April 4, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 13:47 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Market Highlights link

Elana - BSE - Sofia Weekly Overview - April 4, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 14:44 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Market Trend link

FFBH - Bulgaria Weekly Update - Mar 31 - April 4, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 16:06 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews MARKET WRAP-UPThe absence of major news in the first week of April drove the indexes in the red zone as SOFIX lost 3.5% WoW to 1 203.50 bps while BG40 slipped by 3.2% WoW to 342.94 bps. During the week the negative influence coming from foreign capital markets decreased and the sell pressure came mainly from local individuals. The volumes however also declined as most of the turnover was due to large block deals including transfer of 107K shares of Pamporovo (PAMPO) representing 9.9% of the registered capital of the company and 20.6m shares of Petrol (PET) - 18.8% of registered capital. Week gainer was Petrol whose shares reached BGN 5.44 (+23.6% WoW) after the share sale and the news that fuel retailer will sell undisclosed number of gas stations to LukOil. Week loser was Lead and Zinc Complex (OTZK) which dropped to BGN 42.23 (-26.4 WoW) on the decrease in 2007 audited profit. link

Fuel Retailer Petrol Lifts Sofia Stock Turnover, Indices End Mixed Apr 07, 2008, 16:33 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 7 (SeeNews) - Trading in fuel retailer Petrol lifted the turnover of the Bulgarian bourse on Monday and indices ended mixed in the absence of any significant corporate news, brokers said. link

Bulgaria Schedule of Events - April 7 - Nov 25 Apr 07, 2008, 09:09 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 7 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Bulgaria through November 25. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

STS Finance - Daily FX Analysis - April 7, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 13:16 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews The US dollar fell after the payrolls data – 7th of April, 2008The dollar fell on Friday after a report showed the US economy shed jobs for a third straight month, confirming fears that the country may already be in a recession.Both the euro and yen posted gains on the greenback after the government said US employers cut 80 000 jobs in March, more than expected and the biggest monthly fall in five years.However the dollar managed to recover most of its earlier losses by the end ofthe session, after profitable sell-off of the euro. The unemployment rate for March was also worst than expectations, rising to 5.1 percent - its highest level since 2005 and up from 4.8 percent a month earlier. The lackluster labor report reinforces the view for a 50-basis point rate cut from the FOMC when it meets to deliberate policy at the end of the month.The euro climbed as high as 1.5773 after the weak US jobs report, but has since settled around the 1.57-level. Eurozone reports released saw Germany’s industrial orders, which posted a 0.5 percent drop in February improving from the 1.5 percent decline previously but missing calls for an increase of 0.9 percent. The yen also had gained versus the dollar, after it passed the 102 level and held the trading under it till the end of the day.After all the US currency was up 3 percent against the Japanese currency on the week, on track for its biggest weekly gain since 2004. The dollar index .DXY, which measures the greenback against a basket of major currencies, ended the week 0.5 percent higher.Today we are expecting the reports for the unemployment rate in Switzerland, industrial production in Germany and the building permits in Canada. link

* Croatia *

Croatian Banks End-Feb Loan Portfolio Rises 1.2% M/M, Up 13.6% Y/Y – RBA Apr 07, 2008, 11:03 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 7 (SeeNews) – The loan portfolio of Croatian commercial banks reached almost 211.9 billion kuna ($45.6 billion/29.1 billion euro) at the end of February , up 1.2% compared to the previous month and 13.6% higher on the year, commercial bank Raiffeisenbank Austria Zagreb (RBA) said on Monday. link

Polish GTC Invests More Than 40 Mln Euro in Shopping Mall in Croatia Apr 07, 2008, 13:19 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 7 (SeeNews) – Polish property developer Globe Trade Centre (GTC) is investing more than 40 million euro ($62.7 million) in a shopping mall in Osijek, eastern Croatia, the mall’s executive consultant and leasing agent Colliers International Croatia said on Monday. link

Croatian Pliva To Seek Early Redemption Option on 75 Mln Euro Domestic Fixed-Rate Corporate Bond Maturing 2011 Apr 07, 2008, 17:42 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 7 (SeeNews) – Croatian drug maker Pliva said on Monday it will seek early redemption of its 75 million euro ($118 million) domestic euro-denominated fixed-rate corporate bond maturing in 2011. link

Erste Securities - Croatian Equity Daily - April 7, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 13:18 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Highlights: link

Croatian Stocks Drops Further, Turnover Almost Doubles in Sell-Off Apr 07, 2008, 18:29 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 7 (SeeNews) - The Croatian stock market dropped further on Monday, while turnover almost doubled in widespread selling, brokers said. link

Croatia Schedule of Events – April 7 – June 4 Apr 07, 2008, 09:10 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 7 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Croatia through June 4. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Macedonia *

Macedonian Stock Exchange - Monthly Bulletin - Mar 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 10:22 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Macedonian Stock Exchange has published its monthly statistical bulletin for March 2008. link

Macedonian Stock Exchange - Daily Report - April 4, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 10:23 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Macedonian Stock Exchange has published its report on turnover and prices for April 4, 2008. link

Macedonia Schedule of Events - April 7 - Nov 28 Apr 07, 2008, 10:13 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), April 7 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in, or related to Macedonia through November 28. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Moldova *

Moldovan Spirits Producer Barza Alba Net Profit Falls Six Times in 2007 - Table Apr 07, 2008, 12:35 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), April 7 (SeeNews) - The net profit of the Moldovan spirits producer Barza Alba fell six times to 3.05 million lei ($292,000/186,000 euro) last year, the company said on Monday. link

Moldovan Dairy Lactis Swings to Loss in 2007 – Table Apr 07, 2008, 15:25 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), April 7 (SeeNews) - Moldovan dairy Lactis swung to a 502,100 lei ($48,100/31,000 euro) loss last year from a 1.06 million lei net profit in 2006, the company said on Monday. link

Moldova End-March Budget Deficit at 100 Mln Lei (6.1 Mln Euro) Apr 07, 2008, 11:08 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), April 7 (SeeNews) - Moldova had a budget deficit of 100 million lei ($9.6 million/6.1 million euro) at the end of March compared to a surplus of 30.5 million lei a year earlier, Finance Ministry figures showed on Monday. link

Moldova Schedule of Events - April 7 - May 21 Apr 07, 2008, 10:21 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), April 7 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in, or related to Moldova through May 21. New or amended entries are marked (*) link

* Montenegro *

New Securities Exchange of Montenegro - Daily Report - April 4, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 10:22 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews New Securities Exchange of Montenegro (NEX) has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for April 2, 2008. link

Incumbent Montenegrin President Vujanovic Leads in Elections with Prelim 53.3% - Exit Poll Apr 06, 2008, 23:27 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), April 6 (SeeNews) – Montenegro’s incumbent President Filip Vujanovic leads in Sunday’s presidential elections with a preliminary 53.3%, an exit poll indicated. link

Incumbent Vujanovic Wins Montenegrin Presidential Vote with 51.4% - Exit Poll Apr 07, 2008, 13:37 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), April 7 (SeeNews) – Montenegro’s incumbent head of state Filip Vujanovic has won a second term of office with 51.4% of the vote in Sunday’s presidential elections, an exit poll indicated on Monday. link

* Romania *

Romania Launches Sale of Products Certification Company ISCIR – CERT Apr 07, 2008, 10:11 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 7 (SeeNews) - Romania said on Monday it has offered for sale its 100% stake in products certification company ISCIR – CERT. link

EBRD To Lend Romania’s BT Leasing 5.0 Mln Euro To Back SMEs Apr 07, 2008, 13:32 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 7 (SeeNews) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said on Monday it would lend 5.0 million euro ($7.8 million) to the leasing arm of Romania’s Banca Transilvania to finance small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). link

Romania’s Orsova Shipyard To Pay Flat ’07 Dividend, Sees ’08 Net Profit Up 17% Apr 07, 2008, 13:51 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 7 (SeeNews) - Romanian shipyard Santierul Naval Orsova (SNO) said on Monday it will pay a flat dividend for 2007 and it expects a 17% rise in net profit this year. link

Ieba Trust - Company Pager - Teraplast Bistrita, April 7, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 14:34 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Company Description and OverviewTeraplast was set up in 1990 and privatized in 1995. Currently, Teraplast is the main company of the Teraplast Group that comprises the Issuer (Teraplast), Politub and Plastsistem. Teraplast holds 50% of Politub and 70.42% of Plastsistem.The main activity of the Issuer is the production of PVC pipes, while the Group’s activities includes the manufacturing of PVC profiles, PVC granules, thermoinsulating panels, PVC fittings and accessories, thermo-insulating sandwich panels, etc. The money raised through IPO will be used to finance part of the investments forecasted for 2008, namely the finalization of the relocation and integration of the majority of its production lines outside Bistrita, expanding the production capacity and starting the production of two new products, namely corrugated pipes and inspection chambers for outdoor sewage systems. The 2008 planned investments for 2008 worth RON 85 Mn.The forecasted investments for the next six y ears amount to EUR 66 Mn, being directed for increasing the production capacity of all the products. link

Romania’s Anti-Trust Body Approves Sale of Romania’s Ductil to Russia’s Mechel Apr 07, 2008, 16:28 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 7 (SeeNews) - Romania’s competition regulator on Monday said it has approved the sale of welding electrodes manufacturer Ductil to Switzerland-based Mechel International Holdings, part of the Russia’s Mechel Group. link

Romania’s Q1 Consolidated Budget Revenue Rises 51% Y/Y Apr 07, 2008, 13:16 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 7 (SeeNews) - Romania’s consolidated budget revenue for the first quarter of 2008 rose by 51% on the year in nominal terms to 37.05 billion lei ($15.7 billion/10 billion euro), Finance Ministry data showed on Monday. link

Bucharest Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Regulated Market - April 4, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 10:23 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Bucharest Stock Exchange has published its report on trading volumes and prices on the regulated market for April 4, 2008. link

Ieba Trust - Romanian Market Daily - April 4, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 10:38 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews The financial-banking sector accounted for 82.14% of the Regular market daily turnover link

Confident Invest - Weekly Update - April 4, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 13:16 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Abstract link

Raiffeisen Capital & Investment - Investment Daily Romania - April 7, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 13:17 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Trader’s CommentOn Friday, the local stock exchange closed the week and the day on the rise, indices showing appreciations of 0.9% and 0.8% in the case of BET and BET-C respectively, while BET-FI jumped 2.1%.During the first part of the session, the market evolution was in the spirit of the recent period, stillness continuing to be the main market trait. Indices were in red, mainly due to the lack of interest from investors and reduced liquidity. In the afternoon, the market revived slightly, thus the bulk of the shares, and thus the indices, posted gains. Among the blue chips, BRD had good performance liquidity wise, with 179,000 shares changing hands, and price wise, with an upside of 2.8%, the price per share reaching RON 21.7 at closing. link

KD Capital Management - Bucharest Stock Exchange - Weekly Report - Mar 31 - April 4, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 14:09 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews 1. STOCK EXCHANGE OVERVIEW link

Romanian Bourse Extends Gains in Higher Turnover, Mrkt Seen Bullish This Week Apr 07, 2008, 16:23 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 7 (SeeNews) - The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) indices marked some strong gains on Monday amid higher turnover, following a rise at the end of last week, and brokers expect the bullish trend to persist by the week’s end. link

Romania Schedule of Events - April 7 - June 4 Apr 07, 2008, 09:14 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 7 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Romania through June 4. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Romanian Leu Begins Week Stronger vs Euro Ahead of Easter Holidays Apr 07, 2008, 17:22 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 7 (SeeNews) - The Romanian leu on Monday ended stronger versus the euro at 3.6670/6720, compared to Friday’s closing of 3.7050/7075 after a relatively calm trading in moderate volumes, dealers said. link

* Serbia *

Austrian A-Tec Files New Request for Delay of $316 Million Payment for Serbia’s RTB Bor Apr 07, 2008, 11:45 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), April 7 (SeeNews) – Serbia said on Monday it has received a request from Austrian consortium A-Tec to delay until May 7 the payment of the remaining $316 million (201 million euro) of the price it offered for debt-ridden copper mining and smelting company RTB Bor. link

INTERVIEW – Serbian Chemical Company Nevena Sees Up to 16 Mln Euro in 2009 Sales, To Raise Share of Exports Apr 07, 2008, 12:28 CET | Interview | SeeNews LESKOVAC (Serbia), April 7 (SeeNews) - Serbian chemical company Nevena plans to more than double sales to 10-16 million euro ($15.7-$25.2 million) next year and raise to 85% the share of exports in total sales by the middle of 2009, the company’s director general Mila Koseva said. link

Serbia’s March Restaurant, Hotel Prices Rise 8.1% Y/Y - Table Apr 07, 2008, 13:49 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), April 7 (SeeNews) - Prices in Serbia’s restaurants and hotels in March rose by 8.1% from a year earlier and were 1.0% higher than in the previous month, data from the country’s statistics office showed on Monday. link

SERBIA’S FEB FOREIGN DEBT RISES TO $26.98 BLN FROM $26.28 BLN IN JAN - C-BANK Apr 07, 2008, 10:29 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Serbia’s End-Feb Foreign Debt Rises 2.7% M/M to $26.98 Bln - Table Apr 07, 2008, 10:35 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), April 7 (SeeNews) - Serbia’s foreign debt rose to $26.98 billion (17.19 billion euro) at the end of February from $26.275 billion a month earlier, central bank preliminary figures showed on Monday. link

SERBIA’S MARCH INDUSTRIAL PPI UP 1.7% M/M AFTER 0.7% M/M RISE IN FEB – STATS OFFICE Apr 07, 2008, 13:37 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Serbia’s March Industrial Producer Prices Up 1.7% M/M - Table Apr 07, 2008, 13:41 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), April 7 (SeeNews) - Serbia’s March producer prices for the industrial sector rose by 1.7% from a month earlier and were 12.8% higher on the year, the country’s statistics office said on Monday. link

EAR Grants 7.5 Mln Euro to Serbia’s Power Grid Operator To Build Transmission Line Apr 07, 2008, 16:18 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), April 7 (SeeNews) – The European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR) has granted on Monday 7.5 million euro ($11.8million) to Serbian power grid operator Elektromreza Srbije for the construction of a 40.5-kilometre transmission line, the operator said. link

Sinteza Investment Group - Weekly Market WrapUp, Mar 31 - April 4, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 13:58 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Genex Bought by MiskovicEnergy Plan with Russia’s Gas Line Waiting for Elections link

Vojvodjanska Banka - Daily Vobnews - April 7, 2008 Apr 07, 2008, 14:12 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Vojvodjanska banka released its Daily Vobnews Report for April 7, 2008 containing the following charts and tables: link

Serbian Shares Close Down in Meager Turnover Apr 07, 2008, 16:44 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), April 7 (SeeNews) - Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) indices dropped on Monday in tiny volumes and sluggish trading, brokers said. link

Serbia Schedule of Events - April 7 - June 4 Apr 07, 2008, 09:43 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), April 7 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Serbia through June 4. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Slovenia *

Capital Intelligence Raises Rating on Slovenia’s Top Bank NLB t ’A+’ Apr 07, 2008, 17:36 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 7 (SeeNews) - Emerging markets ratings agency Capital Intelligence has raised the long-term credit rating on Slovenia’s largest bank by assets, Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB), to ‘A+’ from ‘A’, NLB said on Monday. link

Eurex, Slovenia’s Borzen Plans To Set Up Spot Power Market SouthPool in Two Weeks Apr 07, 2008, 15:13 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 7 (SeeNews) - Slovenian power exchange Borzen and Eurex, the international derivatives exchange, plan to set up SouthPool, a spot power market for the southeastern European region for electricity and gas, within two weeks, Borzen said on Monday. link

Slovenia’s Iskra Avtoelektrika Sets Up JV in India Apr 07, 2008, 15:22 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 7 (SeeNews) - Iskra Avtoelektrika, a Slovenian manufacturer of automobile starter motors and generators, has set up a 50:50 joint venture in India with a local company, it said on Monday. link

INTERVIEW - Slovenia’s GEN-I Plans To Buy Up to 10% of Spot Power Market SouthPool Apr 07, 2008, 16:14 CET | Interview | SeeNews LJUBLJANA ( Slovenia ), April 7 (SeeNews) - Slovenian power trader GEN-I plans to buy up to 10% of SouthPool, a spot power market for the southeastern European region, GEN-I management board chairman Robert Golob said. “The entering of the ownership structure is interesting for us because it enables us to co-operate actively in the development of the bourse, which is attractive for us from a business point of view,” Golob told SeeNews in a recent interview. GEN-I, a joint venture project of Slovenian companies Istrabenz Gorenje and GEN Energija, also plans to participate on the market, Golob said, adding that the idea for participants to own the bourse is the right way and it is also the case with other power markets. Slovenian power exchange Borzen said on Monday it will launch SouthPool, a spot power market for electricity and gas, jointly with Eurex, the international derivatives exchange, within two weeks. Initially, Borzen will hold a 51% stake in SouthPoo l and Eurex will own 49%. However, the joint venture aims to include a wide range of partners from the region and is open to further shareholders. Borzen and Eurex plan to set up the market with a nominal capital of 1.5 million euro and other partners can enter the shareholders’ structure with a stake of up to 10%, Golob said. “With such an offer Borzen has contacted us, and, along with support for the project, we have confirmed to them our intention to enter the ownership,” he said. Golob believes that GEN-I can contribute to SouthPool’s development mainly with its knowledge of the markets in Southeastern Europe. “Therefore, we intend to co-operate actively with transfer of knowledge and experience,” he said. Outside Slovenia , GEN-I is present through its own subsidiaries on the markets of Croatia , Serbia and Hungary. Golob said that SouthPool enters a very fragmented power market where, excluding Slovenia, Romania and Greece, there is no organised w ay of trading. “It is not only about establishing a regional ket but also about establishing organised trading on some internal markets, which can be in this way cheaper and simpler,” Golob said, adding that the existing infrastructure can be also used. Golob said that the main factors which influence the further development of the power market in Southeastern Europe are: the complexity in the cross-border trading, predominantly state ownership in the energy sector, and the fact that power consumption in the region rises strongly while there haven’t been many bigger investments in new energy sources in the last few years. Golob believes that the establishment of SouthPool is a process and he does not expect it to change the power market in Slovenia and Southeastern Europe overnight. link

Slovenia’s 2007 ILO Jobless Rate Falls to 4.9% Apr 07, 2008, 10:38 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 7 (SeeNews) - Slovenia’s jobless rate, calculated under the International Labour Organization (ILO) standards, fell to 4.9% in 2007 from 6.0% in the previous year, the Slovenian Statistics Office said on Monday. link

Slovenian Stock Indices Lose Ground in Listless Trading Apr 07, 2008, 17:11 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 7 (SeeNews) - Slovenian stock indices lost ground in listless trading on Monday as investors awaited market-moving news from home and abroad, brokers said. link

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