News report of 22.08.2008

* Bosnia *

Bosnian Stock Indices Fall Further Aug 22, 2008, 16:01 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), August 22 (SeeNews) - Bosnia’s two stock exchanges posted further losses this week amid gloomy prospects, brokers said on Friday. link

Bosnia’s Violeta To Build 35 Mln Euro Factory in Livno - Local Authorities Aug 22, 2008, 15:00 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), August 22 (SeeNews) – Bosnia’s leading hygiene products maker Violeta has agreed with local Livno municipality to build a 35 million euro ($52.1 million) factory in the region, Livno said on Friday. link

Croatia’s Ericsson Nikola Tesla in 10 Mln Kuna (1.4 Mln Euro) Equipment Delivery Deal in Bosnia Aug 22, 2008, 14:05 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), August 22 (SeeNews) - Croatia’s Ericsson Nikola Tesla said on Friday it has signed a deal worth some 10 million kuna ($4.3 million/1.4 million euro) to deliver information and communication equipment to the Clinical Hospital (CH) in the southern Bosnian town of Mostar. link

Bosnian Alumina Plant Birac Cuts Capital By 98% To Cover Losses Aug 22, 2008, 11:21 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJALUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), August 22 (SeeNews) – Bosnia’s sole alumina plant Birac, owned by Lithuanian Ukio Banko Investment Group, said on Friday it will reduce its capital by 98% to 15.45 million marka ($11.8 million/7.9 million euro) to cover outstanding losses. link

* Bulgaria *

Bulgarian Car Battery Maker MonBat Appoints New Executive Director Aug 22, 2008, 17:32 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 22 (SeeNews) – Bulgaria’s largest car battery maker MonBat said on Friday it has appointed management board member Petar Petrov as executive director. link

REIT Bulgarian Real Estate Fund Cancels 20.9 Mln Euro Sale Of Office Building Aug 22, 2008, 17:31 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 22 (SeeNews) - Privately held real estate investment trust (REIT) Bulgarian Real Estate Fund (BREF) said on Friday it has canceled the 20.9 million euro ($30.9 million) sale of an office building and parking lot in Sofia to Navigator Business Centre. link

Bulgarian Stock Indices End Mostly Higher in Holiday Mood Aug 22, 2008, 15:34 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 22 (SeeNews) – Bulgarian stock indices ended mostly up on Friday in a session affected by a holiday mood, thin volumes and a lack of any consolidated results from major companies, brokers said. link

ANALYST VIEW - Raiffeisen Raises Bulgaria 2008 GDP Growth Forecast to Real 6.0% from 5.5% Aug 22, 2008, 14:53 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 22 (SeeNews) - Austrian banking group Österreich AG’" href="link">Raiffeisen said on Friday it expects Bulgaria’s 2008 gross domestic product (GDP) to rise by a real 6.0%, up from the previously projected growth of 5.5%. link

Bulgaria To Export Up to 8,000 Kg Ostrich Meat in 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 13:58 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 22 (SeeNews) – Bulgaria hopes to export up to 8,000 kilogrammes of ostrich meat in 2008 as the industry struggles with tough competition on the European markets and high fodder prices, an industry expert said on Friday. link

FFBH - Bulgaria Morning Update - Aug 22, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:50 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews MARKET WRAP-UPThe session on Thursday was more than quiet. The indices moved in opposite directions as the volumes stayed quite low and no aggressive buyers or sellers were present. SOFIX advanced by 1 025.6 bps (+0.11%), wide BG40 slightly moved down to 251.65 bps (-0.27%), BGTR30 closed at 663.42 bps (+0.15%) while BG REIT added 0.78% to 86.79 bps. The most liquid companies during the day were Chimimport (6C4, BGN 8.53, +0.13%) and First Investment Bank (5F4, BGN 5.859, + 1.02%). The REIT market remained quiet as the poor liquidity supported prices from the previous day. link

Bulgaria Awards 1.67 Mln Euro Technical Assistance Deal to Poyry Aug 22, 2008, 10:37 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 22 (SeeNews) – Bulgaria has awarded two contracts worth 3.27 million levs ($2.5 million/1.67 million euro) to the German unit of global engineering and consulting group Poyry for technical assistance in the upgrade of railroads in the country, the Transport Ministry in Sofia said on Friday. link

Elana - Bulgaria Daily Report - Aug 21, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:36 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Market Highlights link

Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Daily Bulletin, Selected Announcements - Aug 21, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:21 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Investment intermediary DZI Invest AD has submitted to BSE-Sofia the following information:- Seat and registered address: 1000 Sofia, 6 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, - Phone: 02/988 21 50; 981 66 57The company is represented by Rick Jost Gust Jansen and Nedelcho Dimchev Chandarov. link

Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Aug 21, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:14 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Bulgarian Stock Еxchange has published its report on turnover and prices for August 21, 2008. link

Bulgaria Schedule of Events - Aug 22-Nov 25 Aug 22, 2008, 09:06 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 22 (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

* Croatia *

Croatian Equity Indices Fractionally Changed, Turnover Halves Aug 22, 2008, 18:04 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), August 22 (SeeNews) - Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) share indices ended fractionally changed on Friday as turnover halved to slump to one of its lowest levels this year, analysts said. link

Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Livestock and Poultry Slaughtered in Abattoirs - Q2 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 14:08 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews In the second quarter of 2008, as compared to the same period of 2007, the net weight of cattle increased by 19%, of poultry by 4%, of pigs by 2%, while the net weight of sheep decreased by 8%. link

Croatia’s Ericsson Nikola Tesla in 10 Mln Kuna (1.4 Mln Euro) Equipment Delivery Deal in Bosnia Aug 22, 2008, 14:05 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), August 22 (SeeNews) - Croatia’s Ericsson Nikola Tesla said on Friday it has signed a deal worth some 10 million kuna ($4.3 million/1.4 million euro) to deliver information and communication equipment to the Clinical Hospital (CH) in the southern Bosnian town of Mostar. link

Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Products of Forestry and Felling - Q2 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 14:05 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The total commercial timber production in both state-owned and privately-owned forests in the second quarter of 2008, as compared to the second quarter of 2007, was approximately the same. In the state-owned forests it increased by 2%, while in the privately-owned forests it decreased by 19%. link

Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Services in Forestry and Felled Timber - Q2 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 13:57 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews In the second quarter of 2008 as compared to the second quarter of 2007 the quantity of forest protection agents used was somewhat smaller, except for the group Other forest protection agents which showed a slight increase. The quantity of fertilisers and soil improvement agents used was also smaller, while the quantities of energy and fuels consumed for some sorts of fuels were larger and for the other smaller. The value of materials used was somewhat larger, while the value of services done in forestry was smaller as compared to the second quarter of 2007. link

Croatia’s June Avg Net Salary Falls Nominal 0.14% M/M - Table Aug 22, 2008, 13:36 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), August 22 (SeeNews) - The average net monthly salary in Croatia fell by a nominal 0.14% to 5,167 kuna ($1,073/721 euro) in June from 5,174 kuna a month earlier, the State Statistics Bureau said on Friday. link

Croatia’s July Jobless Rate Falls to 12.4% - Table Aug 22, 2008, 13:13 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), August 22 (SeeNews) - Croatia’s July unemployment rate fell to 12.4% from 14.0% a year earlier, the State Statistics Bureau said on Friday. link

CROATIA’S JULY JOBLESS RATE FALLS TO 12.4% FROM 14.0% YR-AGO - STATS OFFICE Aug 22, 2008, 13:06 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

EBRD Lends 40 Mln Euro to Croatian Sugar Maker Viro for Upgrades and Acquisition Aug 22, 2008, 11:12 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), August 22 (SeeNews) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is lending 40 million euro ($59.6 million) to Croatian blue-chip sugar maker Viro for upgrades and acquiring state-owned sugar refinery Sladorana, the bank said. link

Erste Securities - Croatian Equity Daily - Aug 22, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 11:03 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Highlights: link

Erste Securities - Atlantic Grupa Flash Note (Not Rated) - Sales Up in Q2 2008, Bottom Line Surged - Aug 21, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:34 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Flash Note - RETAIL - Croatia - August 21, 2008 link

FIMA Stock Monitor - Daily Report - Aug 21, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:33 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Daily comment: link

Croatia Schedule of Events - Aug 22 - Oct 15 Aug 22, 2008, 10:05 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), August 22 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Croatia through October 15. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Macedonia *

Macedonia’s July Jobless Numbers Fall 0.8% M/M - Table Aug 22, 2008, 16:42 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), August 22 (SeeNews) - The number of people unemployed in Macedonia fell by 0.8% on the month to 345,507 in July, data from Employment Service Agency indicated on Friday. link

Macedonian Stock Exchange Slumps Amid Summer Torpor - Table Aug 22, 2008, 15:38 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), August 22 (SeeNews) – The Macedonian Stock Exchange’s key indices fell this week in lower turnover, as a long, hot summer wilted investors’ enthusiasm, but it is expected the trend will reverse soon, a broker said on Friday. link

Forty-eight Show Interest in Road Concession Tender in Macedonia Aug 22, 2008, 12:13 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), August 22 (SeeNews) – Forty-eight companies, financial institutions and consortia have shown interest in a tender for concession on seven road sections in Macedonia, a project aimed at modernising the country’s road infrastructure, the Transport Ministry in Skopje said. link

Macedonian Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Aug 21, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:13 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Macedonian Stock exchange has published its report on turnover and prices for August 21, 2008. link

Macedonia Schedule of Events - Aug 22 - Nov 14 Aug 22, 2008, 09:06 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), August 22 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Macedonia through November 14. New or amended entries are marked (*) link

* Moldova *

Moldova’s FX Reserves Rise to $1.75 Bln in Week Ended Aug 15 Aug 22, 2008, 16:51 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), August 22 (SeeNews) - Moldova’s foreign exchange reserves rose to $1.75 billion (1.2 billion euro) on August 15 from $1.73 billion a week earlier, the country’s central bank, BNM, said on Friday. link

Moldovan Retailer Elat Buys 71.7% of Local Electronics Maker Sigma for 81.5 Mln Lei (5.7 Mln Euro) – Media Aug 22, 2008, 16:05 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), August 22 (SeeNews) - Moldovan retailer Elat has bought a 71.7% state-owned stake in local electronics maker Sigma for 81.5 million lei ($8.5 million/5.7 million euro), the Moldovan economic weekly Logos-Press reported on Friday. link

Moldova Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Aug 21, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:12 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Moldova Stock exchange has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for August 21, 2008. link

Moldova Schedule of Events - Aug 22 - Oct 9 Aug 22, 2008, 09:36 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), August 22 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Moldova through October 9. New or amended entries are marked (*) link

* Montenegro *

Montenegro’s Jan-July Tourism Revenue Up 7.0% Y/Y to 227 Mln Euro Aug 22, 2008, 11:54 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), August 22 (SeeNews) – Montenegro’s tourism revenue rose by an annual 7.0% to 227 million euro ($338 million) in the first seven months of the year, Tourism Minister Predrag Nenezic said. link

New Securities Exchange of Montenegro - Daily Report - Aug 21, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:12 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The New Securities exchange of Montenegro (NEX) has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for August 21, 2008. link

Montenegro Schedule of Events - Aug 22 - Oct 23 Aug 22, 2008, 09:08 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), August 22 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Montenegro through October 23. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Romania *

Romania’s Nova Trade Offers To Pay 19.6 Mln Lei (5.5 Mln Euro) for 93.38% of Lido Hotel Aug 22, 2008, 17:54 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 22 (SeeNews) - Romanian real estate developer Nova Trade is offering some 19.6 million lei ($8.2 million/5.5 million euro) for 93.38% of local Lido hotel in a takeover bid, data of the over-the-counter market RASDAQ showed on Friday. link

Romanian Bourse Indices Bounce Back in Correction Aug 22, 2008, 17:18 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 22 (SeeNews) - Romanian stock indices on Friday closed higher, bouncing back in a correction after the losses suffered in the last few days, brokers said. link

Romanian Leu Ends Little Weaker vs Euro in Calm Trade Aug 22, 2008, 17:00 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 22 (SeeNews) - Romania’s leu ended slightly weaker on Friday at 3.5280/5320 per euro from 3.5270/5310 a day earlier in calm trade, despite rising overnight rates, dealers said. link

Romania’s State-Owned CEC Bank’s H1 Gross Profit Falls 44% Y/Y on Provisions, Rebranding Costs Aug 22, 2008, 15:31 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 22 (SeeNews) - Romania’s last state-owned bank, CEC, said on Friday its first-half gross profit fell to 32 million lei ($13.5 million/9.1 million euro) from 57 million in the year-ago period, due to provisions and rebranding costs. link

Romanian Anti-Trust Body Endorses Sale of Curiero to RTC Holding Aug 22, 2008, 11:23 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 22 (SeeNews) - Romania’s competition regulator said it has approved the sale of Romanian courier service company Curiero by local diversified group RTC Holding. link

Ieba Trust - Romanian Market Daily - Aug 21, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:44 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews The financial-banking sector generated 80.41% of the Regular market daily turnover link

Raiffeisen Capital & Investment - Investment Daily Romania - Aug 22, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:37 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Trader’s Comment link

Raiffeisen Capital & Investment - Corporate Events - Aug 25 - 31, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:32 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Raiffeisen Capital & Investment has released its schedule of corporate events for the week August 25-31, 2008. link

Bucharest Stock Exchange - Daily Report - RASDAQ Market - Aug 21, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:15 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Bucharest Stock exchange has published its RASDAQ daily market report for August 21, 2008. link

Bucharest Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Regulated Market - Aug 21, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:14 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Bucharest Stock exchange has published its report on trading volumes and prices on the regulated market for August 21, 2008. link

Romanian Railways Co Signs Rolling Stock Supply, Ugrade Deals Worth over 1.8 Bln Lei (510 Mln Euro) Aug 22, 2008, 09:23 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 22 (SeeNews) - Romania’s state-owned railway company CFR has signed five deals worth over 1.8 billion lei ($757 million/510 million euro) for the supply and modernisation of passenger carriages, the Romanian Commodity Exchange (BRM) said. link

Romania Schedule of Events - Aug 22 - Nov 11 Aug 22, 2008, 09:09 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 22 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Romania through November 11. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Serbia *

Serbian Indices End Narrowly Mixed in Falling Turnover Aug 22, 2008, 16:43 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), August 22 (SeeNews) - Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) indices closed narrowly mixed on Friday in continuing low volumes, brokers said. link

Vojvodjanska Banka - Daily Vobnews - Aug 22, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 11:25 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews ojvodjanska banka released its Daily Vobnews report for August 22, 2008 containing the following charts and tables: link

Belgrade Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Aug 21, 2008 Aug 22, 2008, 10:16 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Belgrade Stock exchange has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for August 21, 2008 link

Serbia Schedule of Events - Aug 22 - Dec 30 Aug 22, 2008, 09:08 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), August 22 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Serbia through December 30. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Slovenia *

Slovenian Stock Indices Edge Up in Lower Turnover Aug 22, 2008, 16:55 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), August 22 (SeeNews) - Slovenian stock indices edged up in lower turnover on Friday after three consecutive days of falls, brokers said. link

Slovenian Paint Producer Helios H1 Group Net Profit Falls Prelim 11% Y/Y Aug 22, 2008, 15:42 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), August 22 (SeeNews) - Slovenian paints and coatings producer Helios on Friday reported an 11% annual fall in its first-half group net profit to a preliminary 8.9 million euro ($13 million) despite a rise in sales. link

Slovenian Food Maker Zito Raises H1 Parent Net Profit by Prelim 14% Y/Y Aug 22, 2008, 15:06 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), August 22 (SeeNews) - Slovenian food producer Zito on Friday reported a 14% annual rise in net profit to a preliminary 1.59 million euro ($2.4 million) in the first half of 2008, as sales also increased. link

Slovenia’s Sava Raises H1 Group Net Profit by 24% Y/Y Aug 22, 2008, 14:38 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), August 22 (SeeNews) - Slovenian rubber-to-tourism holding firm Sava on Friday reported a 24% annual rise in its first-half group net profit to 23.5 million euro ($35 million), as sales also increased. link

SLOVENIAN BLUE-CHIP RUBBER-TO-TOURISM HOLDING FIRM SAVA RAISES H1 GROUP NET PROFIT BY 24% Y/Y TO 23.5 MLN EURO Aug 22, 2008, 14:13 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Slovenian Statistical Office - Deaths - 2007 Aug 22, 2008, 11:45 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews In 2007, 18,584 deaths were recorded in Slovenia or by 2.2% more than in 2006. Among them there were 55 deaths of infants under one year of age. link

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