Countries:

* Albania *

Albania Receives 10 Bids for Sale of 61% of Insurer INSIG - Media Sep 22, 2008, 09:50 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), September 22 (SeeNews) - Albania has received ten bids for the sale of the 61% state-owned stake in insurer INSIG, Albanian news agency ATA reported on Sunday. link

Fitch Affirms Greece’s Alpha Bank at ’A-’; Outlook Stable Sep 22, 2008, 09:10 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), September 22 (SeeNews) - Fitch Ratings on Friday affirmed Greek Alpha Bank’s ratings at Long-term Issuer Default (IDR) ’A-’ with a stable outlook, short-term IDR ’F2’, individual ’B/C’ and support ’2’. link

* Bosnia *

Bosnia’s Serb Republic Aug Industrial Output Falls 3.9% M/M, Up 6.2% Y/Y - Table Sep 22, 2008, 11:07 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), September 22 (SeeNews) - The industrial production of Bosnia’s Serb Republic in August fell by 3.9% on the month but was 6.2% higher on the year, official data showed on Monday. link

* Bulgaria *

Fitch Affirms Greece’s Alpha Bank at ’A-’; Outlook Stable Sep 22, 2008, 09:10 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), September 22 (SeeNews) - Fitch Ratings on Friday affirmed Greek Alpha Bank’s ratings at Long-term Issuer Default (IDR) ’A-’ with a stable outlook, short-term IDR ’F2’, individual ’B/C’ and support ’2’. link

* Croatia *

Croatian Bourse Indices, Liquidity Fall Back Sep 22, 2008, 18:35 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), September 22 (SeeNews) – Croatian equity indices fell back on Monday as selling pressure regained momentum, brokers said. link

Croatia’s Petrokemija Spends 12 Mln Kuna (1.7 Mln Euro) on Packaging Lines Sep 22, 2008, 16:44 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), September 22 (SeeNews) – Croatian mineral fertilisers producer Petrokemija has invested a combined 12 million kuna ($2.5 million/1.7 million euro) in one new and one upgraded packaging lines and plans to spend a further 9.0 million kuna on another such line by the spring of next year, the company said on Monday. link

Croatia Offers Cut-Price Tenders for Five Subsidiaries of Croatian Railways Sep 22, 2008, 16:08 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), September 22 (SeeNews) – Croatia offered on Monday in five separate tenders majority stakes of subsidiaries of Croatian Railways, cutting their prices after previous tenders failed to attract investors, the Croatian Privatisation Fund (HFP) said. link

Croatia Airlines Orders Two Bombardier Q400 Aircraft for $57 Mln Sep 22, 2008, 14:04 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), September 22 (SeeNews) – Flag carrier Croatia Airlines has signed a contract to acquire two Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners for a total of $57 million (39 million euro) and has also taken out options for an additional four aircraft, the Canadian manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace said. link

Croatia’s Agrokor Offers Highest Price of 6.5 Mln Euro for Montenegrin Tobacco Retailer Duvankomerc Sep 22, 2008, 12:20 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), September 22 (SeeNews) – Croatian food group Agrokor has offered 6.5 million euro ($9.5 million) for Montenegrin tobacco retailer Duvankomerc, higher than the 2.1 million euro offer of the other bidder in the tender, Belgrade-based Futura Plus, Montenegro’s government said. link

Croatia’s July Avg Net Salary Rises Nominal 1.3% M/M - Table Sep 22, 2008, 11:36 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), September 22 (SeeNews) - The average net monthly salary in Croatia rose by a nominal 1.3% to 5,234 kuna ($1,072/736 euro) in July from 5,167 kuna a month earlier, the State Statistics Bureau said on Monday. link

Croatia’s August Jobless Rate Falls to 12.3% - Table Sep 22, 2008, 11:06 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), September 22 (SeeNews) - Croatia’s August unemployment rate fell to 12.3% from 13.8% a year earlier, the State Statistics Bureau said on Monday. link

CROATIA’S AUGUST JOBLESS RATE FALLS TO 12.3% FROM 13.8% YR-AGO - STATS BUREAU Sep 22, 2008, 10:57 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Croatia Schedule of Events - Sept 22 - Oct 29 Sep 22, 2008, 09:38 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), September 22 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Croatia through October 29. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Macedonia *

Macedonia’s August Jobless Numbers Fall 0.3% M/M - Table Sep 22, 2008, 14:18 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), September 22 (SeeNews) - The number of people unemployed in Macedonia fell by 0.3% on the month to 344,323 in August, data from the Employment Service Agency indicated on Monday. link

Macedonia To Auction 300 Mln Denars (4.87 Mln Euro) of Three-year T-Notes on Thursday Sep 22, 2008, 10:30 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), September 22 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s National Bank (NBRM) will auction on Thursday 300 million denars ($7.09 million/4.87 million euro) in three-year Treasury notes, NBRM said on Monday. link

Macedonia Schedule of Events September 22 - Nov 14 Sep 22, 2008, 09:59 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), September 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

Macedonia’s Commercial Banks August Total Assets Rise 1.4% M/M - Table Sep 22, 2008, 09:13 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), September 22 (SeeNews) - The consolidated assets of Macedonian commercial banks totalled 179.39 billion denars ($4.24 billion/2.92 billion euro) at the end of August, up 1.4% from a month earlier, central bank data showed on Monday. link

Macedonia’s End-August M1 Money Supply Rises 0.8% M/M - Table Sep 22, 2008, 09:12 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), September 22 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s M1 money supply, which includes cash in circulation and demand deposits, totalled 48.198 billion denars ($1.14 billion/784.55 million euro) at the end of August, up 0.8% from July, the central bank said on Monday. link

Fitch Affirms Greece’s Alpha Bank at ’A-’; Outlook Stable Sep 22, 2008, 09:10 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), September 22 (SeeNews) - Fitch Ratings on Friday affirmed Greek Alpha Bank’s ratings at Long-term Issuer Default (IDR) ’A-’ with a stable outlook, short-term IDR ’F2’, individual ’B/C’ and support ’2’. link

* Moldova *

Moldovan Banks’ End-August Credit Portfolio Rises 36% Y/Y - Table Sep 22, 2008, 15:44 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), September 22 (SeeNews) - The loan portfolio of Moldovan commercial banks totalled 24.4 billion lei ($2.3 billion/1.6 billion euro) at the end of August, up 36% from a year earlier, the country’s central bank, BNM, said on Monday. link

Moldovan Banks’ Deposit Portfolio Rises 35% Y/Y at End-August - Table Sep 22, 2008, 15:06 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), September 22 (SeeNews) - The deposit portfolio of Moldovan commercial banks totalled 24.4 billion lei ($2.3 billion/1.6 billion euro) at the end of August, up 35% from a year earlier, the country’s central bank said on Monday. link

Moldova’s M1 Money Supply Rises 25% Y/Y at End-August Sep 22, 2008, 14:58 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), September 22 (SeeNews) - Moldova’s M1 money supply at the end of August was 25% higher year-on-year at 11.7 billion lei ($1.1 billion/771 million euro), the country’s central bank, BNM, said on Monday. link

Moldova’s 8-mo Freight Traffic Volume Rises 7.6% Y/Y - Table Sep 22, 2008, 14:47 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), September 22 (SeeNews) - The volume of Moldova’s railway, road and air freight traffic rose by 7.6% on the year to 11.6 million tonnes in the first eight months of 2008, the country’s statistics bureau said on Monday. link

Moldova Earns 180.9 Mln Lei (12 Mln Euro) from Bourse Sale of Stakes in 11 Companies Sep 22, 2008, 13:24 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), September 22 (SeeNews) – Moldova received on Monday a total 180.9 million lei ($17.4 million/12 million euro) in revenue from the sale of state-owned stakes in 11 companies on the Moldovan Stock Exchange (BVM), the bourse said. link

France’s Lafarge Invests 40 Mln Euro in Moldovan Unit in 2006-2008 Sep 22, 2008, 13:05 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), September 22 (SeeNews) - French building materials group Lafarge has invested 40 million euro ($58.3 million) in the development of its Moldovan unit in 2006 to 2008, the country’s Economy Ministry said on Monday. link

Moldova Schedule of Events - Sept 22 -Oct 13 Sep 22, 2008, 09:11 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), September 22 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Moldova through October 13. New or amended entries are marked (*) link

* Montenegro *

Montenegro’s Aug Avg Net Salary Rises 2.1% M/M - Table Sep 22, 2008, 12:48 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), September 22 (SeeNews) - Montenegro’s August average net monthly salary rose by a real 2.1% month-on-month to 426 euro ($620), the Statistics Office said on Monday. link

Croatia’s Agrokor Offers Highest Price of 6.5 Mln Euro for Montenegrin Tobacco Retailer Duvankomerc Sep 22, 2008, 12:20 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), September 22 (SeeNews) – Croatian food group Agrokor has offered 6.5 million euro ($9.5 million) for Montenegrin tobacco retailer Duvankomerc, higher than the 2.1 million euro offer of the other bidder in the tender, Belgrade-based Futura Plus, Montenegro’s government said. link

* Romania *

Romanian Stocks Extend Gains on Optimism on Global Markets Sep 22, 2008, 17:55 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), September 22 (SeeNews) – Optimism on global markets spread to the Romanian bourse on Monday, where stock indices gained ground for a second session in a row, brokers said. link

ANALYST FORECAST - Romanian C-Bank Unlikely To Further Lift Key Rate at Upcoming Meeting Sep 22, 2008, 17:42 CET | Analysis | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), September 22 (SeeNews) - Romania’s central bank (BNR) is unlikely to revise its monetary policy stance this Thursday following a run of seven consecutive hikes so far which have left the key rate at 10.25%, analysts polled by SeeNews said. link

Romanian Leu Ends Steady vs Euro after Week of Losses Sep 22, 2008, 16:22 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), September 22 (SeeNews) - Romania’s leu on Monday closed steady against the single currency, at 3.6280/6320 lei per euro, compared to Friday’s close of 3.6280/6340, as positive news continued to cheer the global markets, analysts said. link

Romania’s Democratic-Liberal Party Has Biggest Support Two Months Ahead of General Elections Sep 22, 2008, 13:48 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), September 22 (SeeNews) – The Democratic-Liberal Party (PD-L), formed earlier this year, enjoys the biggest popularity among Romanians two months before the parliamentary elections in the country, according to survey results released on Sunday. link

Romania’s Banca Carpatica Denies Media Reports of Sale Talks Sep 22, 2008, 12:17 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), September 22 (SeeNews) - Romania’s Banca Carpatica on Monday denied media reports that its shareholders were in talks over a possible sale. link

Romania Schedule of Events - Sept 22 - Nov 11 Sep 22, 2008, 09:10 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), September 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

Fitch Affirms Greece’s Alpha Bank at ’A-’; Outlook Stable Sep 22, 2008, 09:10 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), September 22 (SeeNews) - Fitch Ratings on Friday affirmed Greek Alpha Bank’s ratings at Long-term Issuer Default (IDR) ’A-’ with a stable outlook, short-term IDR ’F2’, individual ’B/C’ and support ’2’. link

* Serbia *

Serbia’s Main Telecoms Company May Trade on Frankfurt Stock Exchange - Media Sep 22, 2008, 18:35 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), September 22 (SeeNews) – Serbia’s dominant telecoms company, Telekom Srbija, slated for partial privatisation in 2009, might be traded on the Frankfurt stock exchange, local daily Politika reported on Monday. link

Serbian Investment Fund Co Focus Invest Launches First Money Market Fund in the Country Sep 22, 2008, 18:11 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), September 22 (SeeNews) – Serbian investment fund company Focus Invest has launched the first money market fund in the country, hoping to get at least 5 million euro ($7.3 million) in assets under management by the end of the year, its general manager said on Monday. link

Serbian Blue Chips Close Unchanged, AIK Banka Block Deal Lifts Total Turnover Sep 22, 2008, 17:56 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), September 22 (SeeNews) - The blue-chip index of the Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) closed flat on Monday as a block deal in AIK Banka boosted the daily turnover, brokers said. link

Serbia’s Vino Zupa Eyes 20% Rise in Revenue to 75 Mln Euro in 2008 – Media Sep 22, 2008, 16:39 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), September 22 (SeeNews) - Serbian wine, alcohol and juice producer Vino Zupa expects a 20% rise in revenue to 75 million euro ($109 million) and further expansion in the region this year, Serbian daily Politika reported on Monday. link

Russia’s Gazprombank Eyes Serbian Unit of Hungary’s OTP Bank – Media Sep 22, 2008, 14:27 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), September 22 (SeeNews) – Russia’s Gazprombank is interested in buying the Serbian unit of Hungarian banking group OTP, Serbia’s daily Blic reported. link

Serbia Extends Bidding Deadline for 70% of River Shipping Company JRB to October 17 Sep 22, 2008, 12:33 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), September 22 (SeeNews) – Serbia has extended the deadline for submission of bids for a 69.99% stake in river shipping company Jugoslovensko Recno Brodarstvo from September 26 to October 17, the government’s Privatisation Agency said. link

Serbia Extends Deadline for Sale of Engineering Company Mostogradnja to October 6 Sep 22, 2008, 12:26 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), September 22 (SeeNews) – Serbia has extended the tender deadline for engineering company Mostogradnja to October 6 from September 26, the government’s Privatisation Agency said. link

Croatia’s Agrokor Offers Highest Price of 6.5 Mln Euro for Montenegrin Tobacco Retailer Duvankomerc Sep 22, 2008, 12:20 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), September 22 (SeeNews) – Croatian food group Agrokor has offered 6.5 million euro ($9.5 million) for Montenegrin tobacco retailer Duvankomerc, higher than the 2.1 million euro offer of the other bidder in the tender, Belgrade-based Futura Plus, Montenegro’s government said. link

Serbia Extends Tender Deadline for Aircraft Maintenance Company to Oct 27 Sep 22, 2008, 11:57 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), September 22 (SeeNews) – Serbia’s Privatisation Agency said on Monday it has extended the tender deadline for aircraft maintenance company JAT Tehnika to October 27 from September 26. link

Serbia Schedule of Events - Sept 22 - Dec 30 Sep 22, 2008, 11:08 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), September 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

Fitch Affirms Greece’s Alpha Bank at ’A-’; Outlook Stable Sep 22, 2008, 09:10 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), September 22 (SeeNews) - Fitch Ratings on Friday affirmed Greek Alpha Bank’s ratings at Long-term Issuer Default (IDR) ’A-’ with a stable outlook, short-term IDR ’F2’, individual ’B/C’ and support ’2’. link

* Slovenia *

Slovenian Road Operator DARS To Borrow 267.5 Mln Euro from Germany’s KfW Sep 22, 2008, 18:23 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), September 22 (SeeNews) - Slovenian road operator DARS said on Monday it has signed a contract with Frankfurt-based bank KfW to borrow 267.5 million euro ($390 million) in order to finance road construction. link

Slovenian Stock Rise Mostly Unaffected by Election Results Sep 22, 2008, 18:21 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), September 22 (SeeNews) - The two indices of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange (LJSE) gained almost four percent each on Monday, but brokers said the results of the country’s Sunday parliamentary election did not have a significant impact on the rise. link

ANALYSIS - Slovenian Leftist Opposition Poised For Power after Sunday Poll Sep 22, 2008, 18:17 CET | Analysis | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), September 22 (SeeNews) - The leftist opposition will most probably form the next government of EU and eurozone member Slovenia after preliminary results of Sunday’s election showed the opposition Social Democrats (SD) with a narrow lead over the centre-right SDS of Prime Minister Janez Jansa, analysts said. link

Ljubljana Bourse Almost Indifferent to Election Results – Brokers Sep 22, 2008, 11:35 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), September 22 (SeeNews) - The two indices of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange (LJSE) gained almost four percent each in morning trade on Monday, but brokers said the results of the country’s Sunday parliamentary election did not have a significant impact on the rise. link

UPDATE 1- Slovenia’s Opposition Social Democrats Lead Narrowly in General Election - Partial Results Sep 21, 2008, 22:54 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds comments, latest data) link

Slovenia’s Social Democrats, SDS in Tight Fight for Lead in General Election – Partial Results Sep 21, 2008, 21:05 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), September 21 (SeeNews) - Opposition leftist Social Democrats (SD) and centre-right SDS of Prime Minister Janez Jansa are in tight fight for the lead in the country’s Sunday general election, partial results from the state election commission showed. link

UPDATE 1- Exit Polls Give Social Democrats 32.02% Lead in Slovenia’s General Election – TV Sep 21, 2008, 20:19 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds details) link

Exit Polls Give Social Democrats 32.02% Lead in Slovenia’s General Election - TV Sep 21, 2008, 19:24 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), September 21 (SeeNews) - Opposition leftist Social Democrats (SD) lead with 32.02% ahead of cntre-right SDS of Prime Minister Janez Jansa in Slovenia’s general election, local state broadcaster TV Slovenia reported on Sunday quoting exit polls. link

EXIT POLLS GIVE OPPOSITION LEFTIST SOCIAL DEMOCRATS 32.02% LEAD IN SLOVENIA’S GENERAL ELECTION - TV Sep 21, 2008, 19:13 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

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