Centro Studi Europa dell’Est - notiziario del 05.03.2008 - powered by www.seenews.com

NOTIZIARIO DEL 05.03.2008

* ALBANIA *

ALBANIA’S Q4 PRODUCER PRICES +2.1% Q/Q, +5.2% Y/Y - STATS OFFICE Mar 05, 2008, 15:20 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Albania Q4 Producer Prices Rise 5.2% Y/Y - Table Mar 05, 2008, 15:44 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), March 5 (SeeNews) - Albania’s producer price index (PPI) rose in the fourth quarter by 5.2% year-on-year, lifted mainly by growing prices in the processing industry, the country’s statistics office, INSTAT, said on Wednesday. link

UPDATE 1 - Albania Q4 Producer Prices Rise 5.2% Y/Y Mar 05, 2008, 16:33 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds details) link

Jan Business Confidence in Albania’s Manufacturing Sector Hits 6-Year Low Mar 05, 2008, 13:41 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), March 5 (SeeNews) - Business confidence in the Albanian manufacturing sector in January dropped to its lowest level since 2002, a survey by the local independent non-profit Centre for Research and Development showed on Wednesday. link

Albania’s Construction Sector Confidence Falls in January Mar 05, 2008, 14:08 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), March 5 (SeeNews) - Business confidence of the Albanian construction sector fell in January on an annual basis but was higher than three months earlier, Tirana-based independent non-profit Centre for Research and Development said on Wednesday. link

* BOSNIA *

Bosnia’s Sarajevo Cigarette Factory 2007 Net Profit Falls 3.1% - Table Mar 05, 2008, 09:24 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), March 5 (SeeNews) – The net profit of Bosnia’s biggest cigarette factory, Fabrika Duhana Sarajevo (FDS), fell to 17.68 million marka ($13.72 million/9.03 million euro) last year from 18.25 million marka in 2006, figures showed on Wednesday. link

Austria’s Volksbank Bosnian Unit Doubles 2007 Net Profit - Table Mar 05, 2008, 10:28 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), March 5 (SeeNews) – One of the Bosnian units of Austria’s Volksbank International, Volksbank BH, has doubled its 2007 net profit to 5.37 million marka ($4.17 million/2.74 million euro), as revenue rose faster than costs, figures showed on Wednesday. link

Bosnia’s Biggest Baker Klas Raises 2007 Net Profit by 57% - Table Mar 05, 2008, 10:39 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), March 5 (SeeNews) - Bosnia’s biggest baking company, Klas, raised its 2007 net profit to some 1.11 million marka ($862,000/567,000 euro) from 704,000 marka a year earlier, figures showed on Wednesday. link

Bosnian Brewery Pivara Tuzla 2007 Net Profit Slumps 82% - Table Mar 05, 2008, 12:56 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), March 5 (SeeNews) – The net profit of Bosnian brewery Pivara Tuzla fell sharply to 37,000 marka ($29,000/19,000 euro) last year from 209,000 marka for 2006, figures showed on Wednesday. link

BOSNIA’S JAN TRADE GAP WIDENS 48% Y/Y TO 263 MLN EURO - STATS AGENCY Mar 05, 2008, 09:21 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Bosnia’s Jan Trade Gap Widens 48% Y/Y to 263 Mln Euro - Table Mar 05, 2008, 09:26 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), March 5 (SeeNews) - Bosnia’s trade deficit for the first month of this year rose to 514.9 million marka ($400 million/263 million euro), from 348.2 million marka in January 2007, as imports rose faster than exports, official data showed on Wednesday. link

Bosnia Schedule of Events – March 5 - May 9 Mar 05, 2008, 09:12 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), March 5 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Bosnia and Herzegovina through May 9. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* BULGARIA *

BSE - Daily Bulletin, Selected Announcements - Mar 4, 2008 Mar 05, 2008, 08:39 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Synergon Holding AD-Sofia, BSE code - PETHL, submitted to X3 News the following information:Due to termination of the employment agreement, please be informed that as from 01.03.2008 Desislava Svetlinova Stefanova is not any more Investor Relations Director of the company.The entire text of the notification above is available at www.x3news.com. link

Bulgarian Gas Retailer Overgas 2007 Net Profit Rises 4.0% Mar 05, 2008, 10:49 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 5 (SeeNews) – Bulgaria’s leading gas retailer Overgas Inc. raised by 4.0% its 2007 pre-tax profit to 25 million levs ($19.4 million/12.8 million euro) as the volume of sales grew 22%, a company official said on Wednesday. link

Hungary’s Wizz Air Launches Flights to Brussels from Sofia Mar 05, 2008, 12:13 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 5 (SeeNews) - Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air on Wednesday said it will fly to Brussels from Bulgaria’s capital Sofia starting July 24. link

AIM-listed Sportingbet To Pay up to 11.2 Mln British Pounds for 50% of Partner in Bulgaria Mar 05, 2008, 13:29 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 5 (SeeNews) - Online betting company Sportingbet has agreed to pay up to 11.2 million British pounds ($22.2 million/14.6 million euro) for 50% of its marketing partner in Bulgaria, Alderney-registered Belmond International Limited, a Sportingbet official said on Wednesday. link

Bill on infrastructure bonds proposed Mar 05, 2008, 16:48 CET | Story | Dnevnik Bulgaria should legislate the issue of infrastructure bonds on projects of national significance, Valentina Dinkova from the Financial Supervision Commission said in the sidelines of the banking and investment exhibition held last week in Plovdiv. link

Bulgaria may tie geographic dialing codes to economic zones Mar 05, 2008, 16:49 CET | Story | Dnevnik New regulations on the designation of telephone number series may significantly reduce the number of fixed-line dialing codes in active use. link

Belvedere to ship Bulgarian wines to U.S. Mar 05, 2008, 16:51 CET | Story | Dnevnik The Bulgarian unit of French wine and spirits group Belvedere said it will start this April to export local wine to the U.S. link

EasyCredit loans to reach 24 mln levs at end-’08 Mar 05, 2008, 16:53 CET | Story | Dnevnik Easy Asset Management, the Bulgarian non-banking provider of unsecured personal micro-loans, said its credit portfolio is projected to increase to 24-26 mln levs by the end of 2008, up from just over 10 mln levs in late 2007. link

Foros realtors: housing market demand still outpaces supply Mar 05, 2008, 16:55 CET | Story | Dnevnik Demand continued to outstrip on the Bulgarian housing market last year, fuelling a 30% increase in residential prices, local real estate agency Foros said in its 2007 market overview. link

Varna power station to invest in gas-fired units Mar 05, 2008, 16:56 CET | Story | Dnevnik The Varna thermal power plant, owned by Czech utility group CEZ, will build two 440MW gas-fuelled units by 2013 to comply with requirements for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, said Jan Vavera, chairman of the CEZ Bulgaria board. link

CEZ: target for annual power outages unattainable Mar 05, 2008, 16:58 CET | Story | Dnevnik CEZ Distribution Bulgaria, a unit of Czech utility group CEZ, said it will be unable to comply with the targets set by the local power regulator for the annual number and duration of power outages. link

Czech CEZ Plans to Build 880 MW Gas-fired Unit at Its Bulgarian Power Plant Mar 05, 2008, 17:44 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 5 (SeeNews) - Czech power utility CEZ plans to build a 880-megawatt gas-fired generation unit at its coal-fired Varna power plant in Bulgaria in a bid to cut greenhouse gas emmissions, a company official said on Wednesday. link

Bulgarian Marma To Build 40 Mln Euro Residential Compound in Varna by 2012 Mar 05, 2008, 17:53 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 5 (SeeNews) – Bulgarian investment company Marma on Wednesday said it will build a 40 million euro ($60.8 million) residential compound in Bulgaria’s largest Black Sea city of Varna by 2012. link

Bulgarian Capital City To Aim for S&P Rating Upgrade to ’BBB’ by Year’s End Mar 05, 2008, 18:01 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 5 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria’s capital Sofia will aim for a credit rating upgrade from Standard and Poor’s to ’BBB’ from the current ’BB+’, city mayor Boiko Borisov said on Wednesday. link

ING Bank Interested in Financing Renewable Energy Projects over 30MW in Bulgaria Mar 05, 2008, 18:21 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 5 (SeeNews) - Dutch ING Bank is interested in financing renewable energy projects of over 30 megawatts in Bulgaria, a bank official said on Wednesday. link

Bulgaria budget surplus charging towards 500 mln levs Mar 05, 2008, 16:45 CET | Story | Dnevnik Bearly into 2008 and Bulgaria’s budget surplus is notching up record increases due to improved budget revenue performance. link

Elana - Bulgaria Daily Report - Mar 4, 2008 Mar 05, 2008, 09:05 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews MARKET HIGHLIGHTSBSE couldn’t maintain previous session’s gains and closed in the red. The correction followed the Friday’s run, when most companies rapidly soared after series of buying-up. However, losses on international markets also weighted on the sentiment. Trading activity improved as compared to previous week. Billboard (BOARD: 9.26; +2.43%) was the most traded position. BOARD was under permanent buying interest, mainly through the on-line system COBOS. Odessos (ODES: 281.83; -6.40%) was among worst performers during the session. The ship repair yard pushed down BG40 in thin volumes.Monbat (MONBAT: 28.27; -4.49%) also declined in low trading volumes and settled at BGN 28.30. Banking sector finished in negative territory leaded by Central Cooperative Bank (CCB: 6.71; -2.33%). Consolidated reports couldn’t support the companies but could be taken into consideration in short term. link

FFBH - Bulgaria Morning Update - Mar 4, 2008 Mar 05, 2008, 10:19 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews MARKET WRAP-UPThe last trading session of the month broughtpredominantly positive changes. SOFIX 1429.56 (+0.87%) and BG40 410.02 (+0.89%) managed to close in the green zone after the support from Monbat (MONBAT, BGN 29.98, +5.75%) and Sopharma (SFARM, BGN 7.50, +3.09%) which both received an aggressive boost in the last minutes of the session. Bulgarian American Credit Bank (BACB, BGN 73.90, +2.64%) also helped both SOFIX and BG40 with more than 38k traded. Among the top gainers were also Odessos Shiprepair Yard (ODES, BGN 304.00, +7.42%) and Eurohold Bulgaria (EUBG, BGN 5.83, +3.77%) which released quite positive consolidated financial statements. The equally weighted BGTR30 couldn’t survive the 29.95% loss in Polimeri (POLIM, BGN 5.11, -29.95%) after the news that the company would increase its capital by BGN 50 mln. Bilboard (BOARD, BGN 9.21, +5.87%) continued to advance in market cap after the release of its record high consolidated results. Vouchers made a step up aft er more than 518k KZ moved the price 5.39% up to BGN 0.45 link

FFBH - Bulgaria Morning Update - Mar 5, 2008 Mar 05, 2008, 10:45 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews MARKET WRAP-UPThe week started with negative moves for the indices and the large majority of the shares. Sell pressure was more than evident since the beginning of the session and continued since almost any stock got coloured in red. Among the few exceptions was Billboard (BOARD, BGN 9.40, +2.06%) which continued to advance in market cap with more than 30k traded. SOFIX, on the other hand, declined 3.01% to 1386.51 bps after the huge drop in Petrol (PET, BGN 5.17, -13.55%) and Monbat (MONBAT, BGN 28.30, -5.61%) which both lost what they had gained last week. BG40 moved 2.34% down to 400.41 bps with the main pressure coming from Odessos Shiprepair Yard (ODES, BGN 280.00, -7.89%), which also dropped after the sharp jump on Friday. Polimeri (POLIM, BGN 4.03, -21.06%) continued the negative move with more than 12k traded and “helped” BGTR30 to close at 886.38 bps (-2.84%). link

Bulgarian Stock Indices End Lower in Dull Trading Mar 05, 2008, 14:54 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 5 (SeeNews) – Bulgarian stocks ended lower on Wednesday in uneventful trading with a large volume of deals in Industrial Holding Bulgaria boosting turnover, brokers said. link

Bulgaria Schedule of Events - March 5- Nov 25 Mar 05, 2008, 08:48 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 5 (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

* CROAZIA *

Croatia’s Erste & Steiermaerkische Boosts Group Net Profit by 47%, Plans Capital Increase Mar 04, 2008, 19:59 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 4 (SeeNews) – Croatian commercial bank Erste & Steiermaerkische (ESB), majority owned by Austria’s Erste Bank, said on Tuesday its group net profit rose 47% to 603 million kuna ($126 million/83 million euro) last year despite restrictive domestic monetary policy, and plans a capital increase. link

Croatian Govt Set To Intervene if Rise in Oil Prices Continues - PM Sanader Mar 05, 2008, 15:22 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 5 (SeeNews) – Croatia’s government would intervene if the recent rise in oil prices continued, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said on Wednesday. link

Croatia Jan Tourist Numbers Rise 10% Y/Y, Overnights Up 11% - Table Mar 05, 2008, 15:37 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 5 (SeeNews) - The number of tourists staying in Croatia in the first month of 2008 rose by 10% on the year to 134,061, and overnight stays increased by 11% to 347,460, the Croatian Statistics Bureau said on Wednesday. link

HP Sales in Croatia Up 18% in FY07, Sees Double-Digit Growth in FY08 Mar 05, 2008, 16:08 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 5 (SeeNews) – U.S.-based computer and printer manufacturer Hewlett-Packard Co (HP) marked an 18% rise in sales in Croatia in its fiscal year 2007 and expects double-digit growth to continue in the current fiscal year, its Croatian office said on Wednesday. link

Croatia’s PBZ 2007 Group Net Profit Up 18.5% to 1.141 Bln Kuna (157 Mln Euro) Mar 05, 2008, 17:52 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 5 (SeeNews) – Croatian commercial bank PBZ reported on Wednesday a group net profit of 1.141 billion kuna ($239 million/157 million euro) for 2007, up 18.5%. link

Croatian Retailer Plodine Issues 100 Mln Kuna (14 Mln Euro) Corporate Bond Mar 05, 2008, 18:20 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 5 (SeeNews) – Croatian retailer Plodine has issued a 100 million kuna ($21 million/14 million euro) fixed-rate corporate bond maturing in 2013 on the domestic market, the bond manager, local commercial bank PBZ, said on Wednesday. link

Croatia Feb New Car Sales Rise 19.7% Y/Y Mar 05, 2008, 14:54 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 5 (SeeNews) - New car sales in Croatia rose to 6,952 in February from 5,806 a year earlier, domestic market research agency Promocija Plus said on Wednesday. link

Croatia’s End-2007 Foreign Debt Rises 12.5% Y/Y, Up 2.1% M/M - RBA Mar 05, 2008, 13:32 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 5 (SeeNews) – Croatia’s foreign debt rose by 12.5% on the year to 32.9 billion euro ($49.9 billion) at the end of December, commercial bank Raiffeisenbank Austria Zagreb (RBA) said on Wednesday. link

FIMA Stock Monitor - Daily - Mar 4, 2008 Mar 05, 2008, 08:43 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Daily comment: link

Erste Securities - Croatian Equity Daily - Mar 5, 2008 Mar 05, 2008, 10:05 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Highlights: link

Croatian Share Indices, Turnover Rises Further Mar 05, 2008, 18:40 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 5 (SeeNews) - Croatian share indices rose by more than one percent on Wednesday amid renewed investor optimism as turnover also slightly rose but remained low, market participants said. link

Croatia Schedule of Events – March 5 – May 17 Mar 05, 2008, 09:06 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 5 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Croatia through May 17. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Croatia C-bank Rejects All Bids in Revrepo Auction Mar 05, 2008, 13:35 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 5(SeeNews) - The Croatian central bank on Wednesday rejected all bids for Treasury bills worth 18.70 million kuna ($3.9million/2.6 million euro) that were placed in its reverse repo auction. link

* MACEDONIA *

Yields Rise on Macedonian 91-day, 182-day T-bills Mar 05, 2008, 11:29 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 5 (SeeNews) - The yields on Macedonian 91-day and 182-day Treasury bills rose at an auction on Tuesday, central bank data showed on Wednesday. link

Macedonia Schedule of Events – March 5 - Nov 28 Mar 05, 2008, 10:13 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 5 (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

Macedonian C-bank Absorbs 4.373 Bln Denars (71 Mln Euro) in 28-day Repo Funds Mar 05, 2008, 15:53 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 5 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s central bank on Wednesday absorbed 4.373 billion denars ($108 million/71 million euro) in 28-day repo funds from the banking system, it said. {{* MOLDOVA *}}

Moldovan Footwear Producer Zorile 2007 Net Profit Falls 10% - Table Mar 05, 2008, 10:52 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 5 (SeeNews) - The net profit of Moldova's largest footwear company Zorile last year fell 10% to 10.75 million lei ($975,100/643,000 euro) despite a rise in sales, the company said on Wednesday. [link->http://seenews.com/news/latestnews/moldovanfootwearproducerzorile2007netprofitfalls10_-table-103950" class="spip_out">link

Moldovan Furniture Manufacturer Stejaur Swings to Loss in 2007 - Table Mar 05, 2008, 11:42 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 5 (SeeNews) – Moldovan state-owned furniture manufacturer Stejaur swung to a 1.4 million lei ($127,000/84,000 euro) loss in 2007 from a 9.6 million lei net profit a year earlier, the company said on Wednesday. link

Moldovan Artmet Net Profit More than Doubles in 2007 - Table Mar 05, 2008, 11:47 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 5 (SeeNews) - The net profit of Moldovan aluminium works Artmet more than doubled last year to 1.5 million lei ($136,100/89,600 euro), the company said on Wednesday. link

Moldovan Construction Company Lusmecon Net Profit Rises 53% in 2007 - Table Mar 05, 2008, 13:16 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 5 (SeeNews) - The net profit of Moldovan construction company Lusmecon rose by 53% last year to 15.01 million lei ($1.4 million/896,200 euro), the company said on Wednesday. link

Japan Grants $2.8 Mln to Support Moldovan Small Businesses Mar 05, 2008, 14:10 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 5 (SeeNews) - Japan has granted $2.8 million (1.8 million euro) to support the development of small businesses in Moldova, the Moldovan Economy Ministry said on Wednesday. link

Moldovan Construction Firm Consocivil Net Profit Down 32% in 2007 - Table Mar 05, 2008, 16:07 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 5 (SeeNews) - The net profit of Moldovan construction company Consocivil fell by 32% last year to 1.59 million lei ($144,000/95,000 euro) despite a rise in sales, the company said on Wednesday. link

Moldova Schedule of Events - March 5 - May 15 Mar 05, 2008, 10:05 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 5 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in, or related to Moldova through May 15. New or amended entries are marked (*) link

* MONTENEGRO *

Tender for Sale of Montenegrin Publisher Pobjeda Fails to Attract Interest Mar 05, 2008, 12:04 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), March 5 (SeeNews) – A tender for a 51% state stake in Montenegrin newspaper publishing company Pobjeda failed to attract bidders by the March 4 deadline, the government said. link

* ROMANIA *

Romania’s BRD Sogelease Value of Financed Goods Up 29% in 2007 to 225 Mln Euro Mar 05, 2008, 12:04 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 5 (SeeNews) - The leasing arm of the Romanian Development Bank (BRD), part of French Groupe Societe Generale (GSG), said on Wednesday it financed the acquisition of goods worth 225 million euro ($341 million) last year, up by 29% from 2006. link

Romania Fines One Drug Maker, Three Distributors 83.7 Mln Lei (22 Mln Euro) over Unfair Competition Mar 05, 2008, 15:22 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 5 (SeeNews) - Romania’s competition regulator said on Wednesday it has fined one local drug maker and three drug distributors a total of 83.7 million lei ($34 million/22 million euro) over fostering unfair competition on the insulin market. link

Romania’s Insurance Market Seen Growing 3-1/2 Times to 7.5 Bln Euro in 2017 vs Last Yr Mar 05, 2008, 16:29 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 5 (SeeNews) - Romania’s insurance market will reach some 7.5 billion euro ($11.42 billion) in gross written premiums in 2017, from approximately 2.15 billion euro at the end of last year, the country’s insurance regulator (CSA) said on Wednesday. link

German RWE To Seek Participation in Romanian Nuclear Plant Construction Mar 05, 2008, 17:09 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd German utility RWE AG plans to take part in the construction of the third and fourth block of Romanian Cernavoda nuclear power facility. link

Romanian Dacia To Launch Sandero Car Model in Europe in June Mar 05, 2008, 17:12 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd Romanian carmaker Dacia, a subsidiary of French group Renault SA, will launch its Sandero car model in Europe in June 2008, Renault said on March 4. link

Romania’s January Industrial Sales Edge Up 0.1% Y/Y - Table Mar 05, 2008, 09:10 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 5 (SeeNews) - Romania’s industrial sales edged up by 0.1% on the year in January, the National Statistics Institute (INS) said on Wednesday. link

ROMANIA CUTS 2008 BUDGET DEFICIT TARGET TO 2.3%/GDP FROM 2.7%/GDP IN BUDGET REVISION - FIN MIN Mar 05, 2008, 16:58 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Romania Cuts ’08 Budget Deficit Target to 2.3%/GDP from 2.7%/GDP - FinMin Mar 05, 2008, 17:35 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 5 (SeeNews) - Romania cut its 2008 consolidated budget deficit target to 2.3% of the projected gross domestic product (GDP) from 2.7% of GDP forecast earlier, Economy and Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian said on Wednesday. link

Romania’s 2007 Budget Gap at Prelim 2.33%/GDP Mar 05, 2008, 18:15 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 5 (SeeNews) - Romania’s preliminary consolidated budget deficit for 2007 totalled 9.45 billion lei ($ 3.87 billion/2.54 billion) under Romanian methodology, equivalent to 2.33% of the country’s estimated gross domestic product (GDP) for last year, data from the Finance Ministry showed on Wednesday. link

Ieba Trust - Romanian Market Daily - Mar 4, 2008 Mar 05, 2008, 08:47 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews In 2007, real GDP rose by 6% YOY link

Raiffeisen Capital & Investment - Investment Daily Romania - Mar 5, 2008 Mar 05, 2008, 09:15 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Trader’s CommentOn Tuesday, the market started on the rise, thus in the first half an hour of trading, the bulk of the shares hit the high of the day. The appreciation was determined by the publication by the National Institute of Statistics of the GDP growth figure (6%), which exceeded analysts expectations (5.7%) and also by the positive start of the European markets. The morning enthusiasm was sustained for almost an hour, afterwards the growth losing pace. Though at closing the indices retained some upside, the session was still characterized by apathy, the result being a low liquidity (less than EUR 6 mn), the weakest volume since February 4.In the newsState budget deficit at 2.33% of GDP in 2007According to datareleased by the Finance and Economy Ministry, in 2007 the state budget deficit amounted to 2.33% of GDP under Romanian methodology or 2.53% of GDP under European calculation methodology (ESA 95). Revenues to the state budget reached EUR 38 bn (31.4% of GDP), whil e spending stood at EUR 40.9 bn (33.7% of GDP) leading to a state budget deficit of EUR 2.9 bn.Armax Gaz GSM resolutionsIn a release to the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), local manufacturer of equipment and instruments used in the oil and gas sector Armax Gaz(ARAX) announced that its shareholders approved in an EGSM (March 3, 2008) the repurchase of 60.4 mn shares, namely 10% of its share capital. The repurchase will take place at a maximum price of RON 1.5 per share and will start after the publication of the EGSM decisions in the Official Gazette. The process will last for 18 months and the shares will be allotted to ARAX employees.SIF Transilvania subscribed to the share capital increase of Tusnad SAIn a release to BVB, SIF Transilvania (SIF3) announced that it subscribed to the share capital increase of Tusnad (TSND) an amount of RON 4.5 mn (EUR 1.2 mn). Tusnad is majority owned by SIF3 with a stake of 64%. link

Romanian Bourse Closes Higher, Investment Funds Advance Most, Low Liquidity Persists Mar 05, 2008, 16:25 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 5 (SeeNews) - Romanian share indices gained ground on Wednesday with the five regional investment funds, the SIFs, advancing most, as low liquidity persisted on the market, brokers said. link

Romania Schedule of Events - March 5 - May 15 Mar 05, 2008, 08:58 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 5 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Romania through May 15. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Romanian Leu Gains Ground vs Euro Helped by Positive GDP Growth Data Mar 05, 2008, 16:41 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 5 (SeeNews) - The Romanian leu ended around the 3.71-per-euro mark on Wednesday, more expensive than the 3.73 closing level of a day earlier as better-than-expected gross domestic product (GDP) growth data moved it up, dealers said. link

* SERBIA *

STOCKWATCH - RCB Keeps ’Buy’ Recommendation on Serbian Commercial Bank AIK Banka Mar 05, 2008, 14:00 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 5 (SeeNews) - Austria’s Raiffeisen Centrobank (RCB) said on Wednesday it maintained its ’Buy’ recommendation on Serbian blue-chip bank AIK Banka on the current price discount, improved 2008 outlook and excellent financial results in 2007. link

SERBIA PLANS TO IMPORT 200,000 TONNES OF BREAD WHEAT IN APRIL TO REPLENISH RESERVES Mar 05, 2008, 17:00 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Serbia Plans to Import 200,000 Tonnes of Bread Wheat in April to Replenish Reserves Mar 05, 2008, 17:03 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 5 (SeeNews) – Serbia plans to import 200,000 tonnes of bread wheat in April to replenish its reserves, Agriculture Minister Slobodan Milosavljevic said on Wednesday. link

UPDATE 1 - Serbia Plans to Import 200,000 Tonnes of Bread Wheat in April to Replenish Reserves Mar 05, 2008, 17:35 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds wheat price) link

Vojvodjanska Banka - Daily Vobnews - Mar 5, 2008 Mar 05, 2008, 10:22 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Vojvodjanska banka released its Daily Vobnews Report for March 5, 2008 containing the following charts and tables: link

Belgrade Indices Close Down as Block Trading, AIK Banka Lift Daily Turnover Mar 05, 2008, 18:23 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 5 (SeeNews) - The Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) fell on Wednesday with block deals and larger than usual trading in blue-chip AIK Banka lifting daily turnover, brokers said. link

Serbia Schedule of Events - March 5 - May 18 Mar 05, 2008, 10:39 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 5 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Serbia through May 18. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Slovenia’s Parliament To Vote on Recognition of Kosovo’s Independence on Wednesday Mar 04, 2008, 19:43 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), March 4 (SeeNews) - The parliament of Slovenia, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, will vote on Wednesday on a government proposal to recognise Kosovo’s independence, a parliament official said on Tuesday. link

* SLOVENIA *

Fitch Affirms Slovenia’s Banka Koper at ’A+’, Stable Outlook Mar 05, 2008, 13:24 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), March 5 (SeeNews) - Fitch Ratings affirmed on Wednesday its long-term issuer default rating of Slovenia’s seventh-largest bank by assets, Banka Koper, at ’A+’ with a stable outlook. link

Slovenia To Press On With Sale of 49.13% of State Telco – PM Mar 05, 2008, 17:22 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), March 5 (SeeNews) - Slovenia will persevere with trying to sell 49.13% of Telekom Slovenije after it rejected both bids it had received for the stake, Prime Minister Janez Jansa said on Wednesday. link

Slovenia’s Economic Growth Slows Down – Govt Think Tank Mar 05, 2008, 17:41 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), March 5 (SeeNews) - Slovenia’s economic growth is slowing down as projected earlier due to lower increases of industrial production, exports and construction activities, the government’s Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development (UMAR) said on Wednesday. link

Slovenia Schedule of Events - March 5 - May 15 Mar 05, 2008, 08:46 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), March 5 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Slovenia through May 15. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Slovenia’s Parliament To Vote on Recognition of Kosovo’s Independence on Wednesday Mar 04, 2008, 19:43 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), March 4 (SeeNews) - The parliament of Slovenia, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, will vote on Wednesday on a government proposal to recognise Kosovo’s independence, a parliament official said on Tuesday. link

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