News report of 24.04.2008

* Albania *

Global Environmental Facility To Lend Albania, Montenegro $4.55 Mln for Ecosystem Project Apr 24, 2008, 16:57 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), April 24 (SeeNews) - The World Bank on Thursday said it closed the negotiations on a $4.55 million (2.89 million euro) loan provided by the Global Environmental Facility for an ecosystem project in Albania and Montenegro. link

* Bosnia *

Bosnian Hydropower Plant Group Drina Q1 Net Profit Falls 39% Y/Y - Table Apr 24, 2008, 10:13 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), April 24 (SeeNews) - Bosnian hydropower plant group Drina posted a net profit of some 1.47 million marka ($1.2 million/752,000 euro) in the first quarter of 2008, down from 2.41 million marka in the year-ago period, as revenue fell while costs rose, figures showed on Thursday. link

Bosnia’s Bobar Banka 2007 Net Profit Rises 28% Apr 24, 2008, 12:35 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), April 24 (SeeNews) - Bosnian privately held bank Bobar Banka posted on Thursday a 2007 net profit of some 642,000 marka ($520,000/328,000 euro), up from 503,000 marka a year earlier. link

Bosnian Oil Refinery Brod Extends Loss in Q1 by 34% Y/Y - Table Apr 24, 2008, 15:41 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), April 24 (SeeNews) – Bosnia’s sole fuel-producing oil refinery, troubled Bosanski Brod, posted on Thursday a loss of 9.41 million marka ($7.6 million/4.8 million euro) in the first quarter of 2008, up from 7.04 million marka in the year-ago period. link

Bosnia’s Serb Republic March Industrial Output Rises 6.0% Y/Y, Up 10.6% M/M - Table Apr 24, 2008, 10:26 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), April 24 (SeeNews) - The industrial production of Bosnia’s Serb Republic rose by 6.0% on the year in March and was 10.6% higher compared to February output, official data showed on Thursday. link

Bosnia Schedule of Events - April 24 - Oct 29 Apr 24, 2008, 10:09 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), April 24 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Bosnia and Herzegovina through October 29. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Bulgaria *

Bulgaria’s Petrol Sells 75 Petrol Stations, Oil Storage Depot to Lukoil’s Bulgarian Arm for 237 Mln Euro Apr 24, 2008, 12:27 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria’s largest fuel retailer, Petrol, said on Thursday it will sell 75 of its petrol stations and an oil storage depot to Lukoil Bulgaria, the local arm of the Russian oil major, in a deal worth 237 million euro ($373.2 million). link

UPDATE 1 - Bulgaria’s Petrol Sells 75 Filling Stations, Oil Storage Depot to Lukoil’s Bulgarian Arm for 237 Mln Euro Apr 24, 2008, 14:55 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds details, approval by anti-trust watchdog) link

Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Daily Bulletin, Selected Announcements - April 23, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 07:58 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews FairPlay Properties REIT-Sofia, BSE code - FPP, submitted to X3 News the following information:"FairPlay Properties REIT realized BGN 1.834 mln net profit for the first quarter of 2008. In accordance with the interim report as at 31.03.2008, the revenues of the Company from sales of apartments increased three times compared to the same accounting period of the previous year and amount to BGN 6.737 mln.On 14 April, FairPlay Properties REIT started the payment of dividends for 2007 to the amount of BGN 8 mln or BGN 0,1433 per share, including the new securities of the fourth capital increase from 50,700,000 to 55,825,370 shares. For the entire 2008, the Company plans BGN 42.46 mln revenues from sales and BGN 10.4 mln profit for distribution at which the dividend will be BGN 0,16 per share."The entire notification is available on

link x3news

link seenews

BULGARIAN CHEMICAL FERTILISERS MAKER NEOCHIM’S Q1 NET PROFIT 3.5 TIMES HIGHER Y/Y AT 11.4 MLN EURO Apr 24, 2008, 09:23 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Bulgaria’s Neochim Q1 Net Profit 3.5 Times Higher Y/Y - Table Apr 24, 2008, 09:32 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian blue-chip chemical fertilisers manufacturer Neochim on Thursday said its net profit for the first quarter was 3.5 times higher than a year earlier at 22.3 million levs ($18.1 million/11.4 million euro), while sales were up 26%. link

Bulgaria’s Raiffeisenbank Places 200 Mln Euro Unsecured Consumer Loan Portfolio Apr 24, 2008, 11:32 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (SeeNews) - The Bulgarian arm of Raiffeisen International Bank Holding has successfully closed the placement of warehousing notes worth 200 million euro ($315 million), the parent company said on Thursday. link

Bulgarian NSI - Cinemas in 2007 - April 24, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 11:44 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Statistics Institute (NSI) has published its report on cinemas in Bulgaria for 2007. link

CORRECTED (OFFICIAL) - Bulgaria’s Unreal Estates Denies Pramerica, KanAm, Aareal Bank Enter Bulgaria through Partnership with It Apr 24, 2008, 11:53 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian real estate consultancy Unreal Estates on Thursday corrected its previous information that U.S.-based real estate investment management company Pramerica Real Estate Investors, German real estate fund manager KanAm and German property lender Aareal Bank have entered Bulgaria through partnership with it. link

Bulgarian Cosmetics Maker Aroma Sees 2008 Operating Profit Up 0.7% Apr 24, 2008, 12:43 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (SeeNews) – Bulgarian cosmetics maker Aroma expects its operating profit to rise by 0.7% to 3.1 million levs ($2.5 million/1.6 million euro) this year, the company said. link

German Real Estate Firm ECE Aims to Double Portfolio in Bulgaria to over 1.0 Bln Euro by 2013 Apr 24, 2008, 12:54 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (SeeNews) – German construction company ECE aims to double its portfolio of developed projects in Bulgaria jointly funded with partners to over one billion euro ($1.6 billion) by 2013, a senior executive from the company’s Bulgarian arm said on Thursday. link

Bulgaria’s Winslow Developments Sees Its Property Portfolio Worth over 600 Mln Euro by 2012 Apr 24, 2008, 14:17 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (SeeNews) – Bulgarian real estate developer Winslow Developments sees the value of its portfolio at over 600 million euro ($944 million) by 2012, a senior company official said on Thursday. link

Majority Shareholders in Bulgarian Sheraton Sofia Hotel Plan Buyout Bid Apr 24, 2008, 16:04 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (SeeNews) – Two shareholders in Bulgaria’s Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan, who together own the majority of the company, plan to launch a buyout bid for the remaining stake, Sheraton said on Thursday. link

Black Sea Bank Lends 12.5 Mln Euro to Bulgarian-American Credit Bank To Back SMEs Apr 24, 2008, 16:10 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (SeeNews) - Blue-chip Bulgarian-American Credit Bank (BACB) on Thursaday said it has signed an agreement with the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank for a 12.5 million euro ($19.6 million) loan to finance small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). link

INTERVIEW – Bulgarian Construction Firm Yazov Sees Profit Rising to 3.7 Mln Euro Annually in 2010 Apr 24, 2008, 16:17 CET | Interview | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (SeeNews) – Bulgarian construction and real estate investment company Yazov Ltd. expects its annual profit to rise to 7.2 million levs ($5.8 million/3.7 million euro) in 2010, a senior company official said. link

BULGARIA’S CENTRAL COOPERATIVE BANK Q1 NET PROFIT UP 7.8% Y/Y Apr 24, 2008, 16:28 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Bulgaria’s Central Cooperative Bank Q1 Net Profit Rises 7.8% Y/Y - Table Apr 24, 2008, 17:02 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria’s Central Cooperative Bank (CCB), part of industrial conglomerate Chimimport, said on Thursday its first quarter net profit rose by 7.8% on the year to some 6.7 million levs ($5.4 million/3.4 million euro). link

Bulgarian NSI - Average Market Prices of Dwellings - Q1, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 11:45 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Statistics Institute (NSI) has published its report on average market prices of dwellings for the first quarter of 2008. link

Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Daily Report - April 23, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 07:55 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Bulgarian Stock Exchange has published its report on turnover and prices for April 23, 2008. Macedonian Stock Exchange - Daily Report - April 23, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 07:55 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Macedonian Stock Exchange has published its report on turnover and prices for April 23, 2008. [link->http://seenews.com/news/latestnews/macedonianstockexchange-dailyreport-april23_2008-072059" class="spip_out">link

Bulbrokers - USA Stock Markets Daily Review - April 24, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 10:18 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews The Positive Sentiment On Wall Street Slowly Comes Back The positive sentiment on Wall Street has resumed as the US indices started the Wednesday session with moderate gains helped by the good results from the aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. The multitude of reports that came out during the day fueled mostly positive reactions among the investors. As there was no economic fundamental news the main focus was on the companies results. The financial sector weighed on the market due to the bigger than expected losses announced by the bond insurer Ambac Financial Group Inc, which resumed worries around the credit crisis. In a big trading volume session all the three indices closed in green.Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 0.3% to 12763.22, S&P500 advanced by 0.3% to 1379.93 and Nasdaq Composite was up by 1.2% to 2405.21.Boeing Co earned $1.61 per share in its latest quarter, topping estimates by $0.26 and marking a 40% year-over-year increase. Although the company offered a cautious outlook for the full 2008 which was below expectations the news was taken positively and the shares of the aircraft manufacturer rose by 4.5%. Yahoo Inc topped earnings expectations and marked its first increase in earnings in roughly two years. However, its stocks fell by 1.6% as traders reflected concerns that Microsoft would not increase its offer of roughly $31 per share to acquire Yahoo. Among the tech companies that beat the estimates were also VMWare Inc (+4.9%) and Broadcom (+16.3).A disappointment came from Ambac Financial Group Inc, which announced a significant loss of $5.42 per share caused by $1.7 billion in write-downs and $1 billion increase in loan loss provisions. The stocks of the bond insurer sunk by entire 42.6% to all time record lows dragging down its rival MBIA Inc (-33.8%).Shares of Safeco Corp surged by 45.8% after news that Liberty Mutual Insurance Co intends to acquire the company for $6.2 billion which will create the nation’s fifth-big gest property and casualty insurer.Trading volume on NYSE was 1.4 lion shares, with a ratio advancers/decliners 8 to 7, and volume on Nasdaq was 2.1 billion shares, with a ratio advancers/decliners 5 to 4. link

Elana - Bulgaria Daily Report - April 23, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 11:01 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Market Highlights link

FFBH - Bulgaria Morning Update - April 24, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 11:34 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews MARKET WRAP-UP link

Blugarian Stocks End Mixed in Low Volumes, Fuel Retailer Petrol Makes 40% of Turnover Apr 24, 2008, 16:32 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian stocks ended mixed in low volumes on Thursday with fuel retailer Petrol making 40% of the turnover on the Sofia bourse, brokers said. link

Bulgaria Schedule of Events - April 24 - Nov 25 Apr 24, 2008, 09:19 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (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

Bulbrokers - Daily FX Analysis - April 24, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 10:17 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews US dollars rose against the majors link

Bulgaria’s Parliament Endorses Cabinet Reshuffle Apr 24, 2008, 12:54 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria’s parliament endorsed on Thursday a cabinet reshuffle proposed by Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev two days earlier. link

Bulgarian Government List - Updated April 24, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 13:57 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 24 (SeeNews) - Updates with the addition to the cabinet lineup of a new deputy prime minister in charge of the absorption of European Union funds and the appointment of new interior, health, farm and defence ministers. link

* Croatia *

Croatia’s Viadukt To Pay 4.1 Mln Kuna (0.564 Mln Euro) in 2007 Dividend, To Raise Capital by up to 50% Apr 24, 2008, 13:42 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 24 (SeeNews) - Croatian road construction company Viadukt said on Thursday it plans to pay a total of 4.1 million kuna ($0.889 million/ 0.564 million euro) in 2007 dividend and to increase its capital to up to 138.15 million kuna. link

Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Monthly Statistical Report - Mar 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 11:43 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Croatian Bureau of Statistics has published its monthy statistical report for March 2008. link

Erste Securities - Croatian Equity Daily - April 24, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 11:09 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Highlights: link

Further Growth in Shipping Firms Pushes Higher Croatian Indices Apr 24, 2008, 18:39 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 24 (SeeNews) - The Croatian equity market continued to rise on Thursday as shipping companies remained in the focus of investors, brokers said. link

Croatia Schedule of Events - April 24 - June 4 Apr 24, 2008, 09:27 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 24 (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 *

Macedonia’s Power Transmission Co MEPSO To Auction 3,080 MWh of Nighttime Electricity May 1-11 Apr 24, 2008, 14:39 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), April 24 (SeeNews) - Macedonian state-owned power transmission operator MEPSO on Thursday offered for sale 3,080 megawatthours (MWh) of nighttime electricity surpluses for the period May 1 -11 to all interested domestic and foreign consumers and licensed power trading companies, it said. link

MACEDONIA’S KOMERCIJALNA BANKA PRELIM Q1 NET PROFIT UP 105.5% Y/Y TO 419.5 MLN DENARS (6.9 MLN EURO) Apr 24, 2008, 15:09 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Macedonia’s Komercijalna Banka Prelim Q1 Net Profit More than Doubles to 419.5 Mln Denars (6.9 Mln Euro) -Table Apr 24, 2008, 15:36 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), April 24 (SeeNews) - The preliminary net profit of Macedonia’s largest commercial bank Komercijalna Banka for the first three months of 2008 more than doubled on the year to 419.5 million denars ($10.83 million/6.9 million euro), the bank said on Thursday. link

Macedonia’s March Core Inflation Slows to 2.7% Y/Y from 3.2% in February Apr 24, 2008, 14:06 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), April 24 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s March core inflation slowed to 2.7% year-on-year from 3.2% in February, the country’s central bank said. link

Macedonia’s February Net Salary Rises 9.1% Y/Y- Table Apr 24, 2008, 14:46 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), April 24 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s average net salary in February was 15,207 denars ($396.7/252 euro), up by 9.1% compared with the same month of 2007, the Macedonian Statistics Office said on Thursday. link

Macedonian Stock Exchange Stays Level in Low Trading -Table Apr 24, 2008, 18:08 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), April 24 (SeeNews) - The Macedonian Stock Market stayed level in a very thin trading this week as traders remain reluctant to sell at low prices, brokers said on Thursday. link

Macedonia Schedule of Events April 24 –Nov 28 Apr 24, 2008, 09:25 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), April 24 (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

* Montenegro *

Global Environmental Facility To Lend Albania, Montenegro $4.55 Mln for Ecosystem Project Apr 24, 2008, 16:57 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), April 24 (SeeNews) - The World Bank on Thursday said it closed the negotiations on a $4.55 million (2.89 million euro) loan provided by the Global Environmental Facility for an ecosystem project in Albania and Montenegro. link

New Securities Exchange of Montenegro - Daily Report - April 23, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 10:15 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews New Securities Exchange of Montenegro (NEX) has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for April 23, 2008. link

Montenegro Schedule of Events - April 24 - June 4 Apr 24, 2008, 09:28 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), April 24 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Montenegro through June 4. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Romania *

Romanian Aluminium Products Maker Altur Plans to Treble Gross Profit in 2008 - Table Apr 24, 2008, 11:15 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 24 (SeeNews) - Romanian aluminium products manufacturer Altur plans to more than treble its gross profit to 4.22 million lei ($1.85 million/1.18 million euro) this year, from 1.30 million lei in 2007. link

ROMANIA’S SIF 5 OLTENIA SEES 2008 NET PROFIT DOWN TO 90.61 MLN LEI (25.3 MLN EURO) FROM 106.45 MLN LEI IN 2007 Apr 24, 2008, 14:11 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Romanian Investment Fund SIF 5 Oltenia Sees 2008 Net Profit Down 15% to 90.61 Mln Lei (25.3 Mln Euro) Apr 24, 2008, 14:27 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 24 (SeeNews) - Romanian investment fund SIF 5 Oltenia expects its net profit to fall by 15% to 90.61 million lei ($39.8 million/25.3 million euro) this year, the fund said on Thursday. link

Hungary’s MOL 2007 Net Profit in Romania More than Doubles to Over 12 Mln Euro Apr 24, 2008, 14:59 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 24 (SeeNews) - MOL Romania, the local arm of Hungarian oil and gas company MOL, said on Thursday its 2007 net profit more than doubled to over 12 million euro ($18.9 million). link

Czech Zentiva Q1 Gross Sales in Romania Fall 40% Y/Y Apr 24, 2008, 15:03 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 24 (SeeNews) – Czech drug maker Zentiva said on Thursday its gross sales in Romania fell by 40% on the year in the first quarter of 2008. link

Romania’s Alro Sees ‘08 Net Profit at $150.53 Mln, To Pay 55.8% Higher ’07 Gross Dividend Apr 24, 2008, 16:28 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 24 (SeeNews) - Romanian aluminium smelter Alro, a subsidiary of Dutch-based aluminium producer Vimetco, on Thursday projected a net profit of $150.53 million (95.5 million euro) for 2008, and said it will pay a 55.8% higher gross dividend for 2007. link

Romanian IT Group Flamingo Plans to Buy Back 3.6% of Its Capital Apr 24, 2008, 16:34 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 24 (SeeNews) – Romanian information technology group Flamingo International received its shareholders’ approval to buy back a total of 28 million of its own shares, or some 3.6% of its capital, the company said on Thursday. link

ROMANIA’S SIF 1 BANAT CRISANA SEES 2008 NET PROFIT DOWN TO 104.08 MLN LEI (29.0 MLN EURO) FROM 122.81 MLN LEI IN 2007 Apr 24, 2008, 16:44 CET | Alert | SeeNews ROMANIA'S SIF 1 BANAT CRISANA TO PAY 0.07 LEI (0.0195 EURO) IN '07 GROSS DIVIDEND VS 0.06 LEI FOR '06 Apr 24, 2008, 16:50 CET | Alert | SeeNews [link->http://seenews.com/news/latestnews/romania_ssif1banatcrisanatopay0_07lei_0_0195euro_in_07grossdividendvs0_06-164942" class="spip_out">link

Romanian Investment Fund SIF 1 Banat Crisana Sees ‘08 Net Profit Down 15.2%, To Pay Higher ’07 Dividend Apr 24, 2008, 17:22 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 24 (SeeNews) - Romanian investment fund SIF 1 Banat Crisana expects its net profit to fall by 15.2% to 104.08 million lei ($45.7 million/29.0 million euro) this year and will pay a higher 2007 dividend, the fund said on Thursday. link

Romania’s Rompetrol Rafinare To Invest 65 Mln Euro in Hydrogen Generation Unit Apr 24, 2008, 17:40 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 24 (SeeNews) - Rompetrol Rafinare (RRC), the refining unit of Romania’s second-largest oil group Rompetrol, said on Thursday it will invest some 65 million euro by the year 2010 in the construction of a hydrogen generation unit. link

Romania, German-Romanian JV To Sign 48.8 Mln Euro Contract for Construction of Sibiu City Beltway Apr 24, 2008, 18:02 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 24 (SeeNews) - Romania’s Transport Ministry on Thursday said it will sign a 48.8 million euro ($76.4 million) contract for the construction of the beltway of the central city of Sibiu with the winning bidder, German-Romanian joint venture Boegl-Geiger-Comtram. link

Romanian City of Eforie 11-Yr Bond To Start Trading on Bucharest Bourse April 25 Apr 24, 2008, 16:15 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 24 (SeeNews) - A 11-year leu-denominated municipal bond issue of the Romanian city of Eforie worth six million lei ($2.6 million/1.7 million euro) will start trading on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) on April 25, the bourse said on Thursday. link

Bucharest Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Regulated Market - April 23, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 07:53 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Bucharest Stock Exchange has published its report on trading volumes and prices on the regulated market for April 23, 2008. link

Bucharest Stock Exchange - Daily Report - RASDAQ Market - April 23, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 10:10 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Bucharest Stock Exchange has published its RASDAQ daily market report for April 23, 2008. link

Ieba Trust - Romanian Market Daily - April 23, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 10:16 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews BSE registered the lowest daily turnover of the last three years link

Raiffeisen Capital & Investment - Investment Daily Romania - April 24, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 11:25 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews In the newsRemarul 16 Februarie FY 2007 resultsRailway stock repairs and maintenance company Remarul 16 Februarie (REFE) released its FY 2007 results. The company posted a healthy 32% yoy increase in turnover to RON 111.4 mn (EUR 33.4 mn), mostly due to the business generated by Metalurgica Aiud, which REFE took over at end-2006. Metalurgica generated a turnover of RON 38 mn (EUR 11.4 mn). On the costs side, the main items were represented by raw material costs up 50% yoy to RON 41.4 mn (EUR 12.4 mn) and salaries expenses of RON 31.4 mn (EUR 9.4 mn), 85% higher yoy. EBIT came in at RON 3.4 mn (EUR 1 mn) compared to RON 13.6 mn (EUR 3.8 mn) in 2006. The net profit stood at RON 1.3 mn (EUR 0.4 mn) vs. RON 10.3 mn (EUR 2.9 mn) in 2006. We see 2007 as a transitory year following Metalurgica acquisition but we reckon the integration was not finalized and profitability might be affected again in 2008.Flamingo audited 2007 results under IFRSThe consumer electronics retailer Flamingo International (FLA) reported its FY 2007 consolidated, audited results under IFRS. The results are closely in line with the results presented previously by the company. The turnover stood at RON 585 mn, up 25.7% yoy and some 2.5% higher than previously announced, while the net profit reached RON 2.8 mn, from an estimated RON 1.8 mn.Prospectiuni retains profits to finance capex plan for 2008Geological and geophysical prospecting company Prospectiuni (PRSN) held a shareholders meeting on April 22, when shareholders approved, among others, to retain the net profit of RON 51 mn (EUR 14.7 mn) and use the funds to finance its 2008 capex plan. Total investments budgeted for 2008 stand at EUR 20 mn.PRSN posted in 2007 a net profit of RON 53.9 mn (EUR 15.6 mn), 35% higher yoy and turnover amounted to RON 203.1 mn, up by 9% yoy. link

Romanian Market Closes Higher, Blue-chip Petrom Dominates Trading Apr 24, 2008, 15:33 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 24 (SeeNews) - The Romanian stocks closed up on Thursday in higher volumes as blue-chip oil and gas group Petrom resumed trading and attracted investors’ interest, brokers said. link

Romania Schedule of Events - April 24 - June 4 Apr 24, 2008, 09:45 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 24 (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 Weakens Further, Nears 3.6-per-Euro Mark Apr 24, 2008, 16:50 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 24 (SeeNews) - The Romanian leu on Thursday lost more ground against the euro after the head of the country’s central bank Mugur Isarescu said further rate hikes were unlikely and due to a more liquid market, dealers said. link

* Serbia *

Serbia Launches Tender for Advisor on Telekom Srbija’s IPO Apr 24, 2008, 14:21 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), April 24 (SeeNews) – Serbia launched on Thursday a tender to select an advisor for the initial public offering (IPO) of majority state-owned Telekom Srbija, the government’s Privatisation Agency said. link

SERBIAN C-BANK SAYS RAISES KEY REPO RATE TO 15.25% FROM 14.5% Apr 24, 2008, 10:07 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Serbian C-bank Raises Key Repo Rate to 15.25% from 14.50% Apr 24, 2008, 10:23 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), April 24 (SeeNews) - Serbia’s central bank, NBS, on Thursday raised its key repo rate to 15.25% from 14.5%, it said. link

UPDATE 1 - Serbian C-bank Raises Key Repo Rate to 15.25% from 14.50% Apr 24, 2008, 15:42 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds quotes from NBS governor, background) link

Belgrade Stock Exchange - Daily Report - April 23, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 07:53 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Belgrade Stock Exchange has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for April 23, 2008 link

Vojvodjanska Banka - Daily Vobnews - April 24, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 11:26 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Vojvodjanska banka released its Daily Vobnews Report for April 24, 2008 containing the following charts and tables: link

Sinteza Investment Group - Daily Market WrapUp - April 23, 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 11:44 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Sinteza Investment Group has released its Daily Market WrapUp for April 23, 2008, containing an overview of the Serbian Financial Market. link

Serbian Blue Chips Rise ahead of Easter Holidays, Block Deals Lift Turnover Apr 24, 2008, 15:30 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), April 24 (SeeNews) – The blue-chip index of the Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) rose in the last trading session before the start of Orthodox Easter holidays in Serbia and block deals lifted the bourse’s turnover, brokers said on Thursday. link

Serbia Schedule of Events - April 24 - June 4 Apr 24, 2008, 09:19 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), April 24 (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 *

Slovenian Statistical Office - Labour Force Slovenia - Jan 2008 Apr 24, 2008, 14:19 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews
 In January 2008 the labour force in Slovenia numbered 936,580 persons, which is 0.4% more than in December 2007 and 2.0% more than in January 2007. link

SLOVENIAN BLUE-CHIP FUEL TRADER PETROL RAISES Q1 GROUP NET PROFIT BY 59% Y/Y TO 15.6 MLN EURO Apr 24, 2008, 16:09 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

SLOVENIAN BLUE-CHIP HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE MANUFACTURER GORENJE SAYS RAISES Q1 GROUP NET PROFIT BY 21.5% Y/Y TO 5.35 MLN EURO Apr 24, 2008, 16:18 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Slovenian Fuel Trader Petrol Raises Q1 Group Net Profit by 59% Y/Y Apr 24, 2008, 16:25 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 24 (SeeNews) - Slovenian blue-chip fuel trader Petrol said on Thursday its first-quarter group net profit jumped by 59% year-on-year to 15.6 million euro ($24.6 million) on the back of higher sales. link

Slovenia’s Gorenje Raises Q1 Group Net Profit by 21.5% Y/Y Apr 24, 2008, 16:36 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 24 (SeeNews) - Slovenian blue-chip household appliance manufacturer Gorenje raised its first-quarter group net profit by 21.5% year-on-year to 5.35 million euro ($8.4 million), it said on Thursday. link

SLOVENIA’S GORENJE PROPOSES TO PAY 2007 GROSS DIVIDEND OF 0.45 EURO/SHARE, UP FROM 0.42 EURO YR-AGO Apr 24, 2008, 16:41 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Slovenia’s Gorenje Proposes To Pay Higher 2007 Gross Dividend of 0.45 Euro/Share Apr 24, 2008, 16:52 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 24 (SeeNews) - Slovenian household appliances manufacturer Gorenje will propose to pay a gross dividend of 0.45 euro ($0.71) per share for 2007, up from 0.42 euro it paid for the previous year, it said on Thursday. link

Slovenian Stock Indices Fall Further in Higher Turnover Apr 24, 2008, 18:18 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 24 (SeeNews) - Slovenian stock indices fell for a second day running in higher turnover on Thursday with most blue chips losing value, brokers said. link

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