INTERFAX - Hungary news

European Commission calls on Hungary to change law on R&D tax incentives

Hungary’s general government deficit falls to 5.5% of GDP in 2007 – stats office

MONETARY POLICY

Hungary’s Monetary Council raises base rate 50 basis points to 8.00%, as expected

STATISTICS

Hungary’s final January trade deficit EUR 79.5 mln, higher than preliminary figures

Hungary to increase military presence in Afghanistan by 80–140 troops - PM

Hungary’s liberals will not back socialist revamp of healthcare law

Hungarian coalition parties confirm break-up, socialists to rule with minority from May

Hungary’s governing coalition heading for split, minority government likely

Hungarian liberal party to decide on recalling ministers from coalition with socialists

Hungarian airline Malev notes HUF 3.5 bln extra revenues in first year in Oneworld alliance

CHEMICALS

Hungarian chemical firm TVK to pay out 35% of 2007 profit in dividend, HUF 369 per share

PHARMACEUTICALS & HEALTHCARE

ANALYST OUTLOOK: Raiffeisen cuts outlook, keeps "buy" on Hungarian pharmas Richter, Egis

REAL ESTATE

Property developers Sonae, Caelum plan EUR 591 mln Bucharest shopping center

Hungary lease roundup 04/04/2008 – C&W, Colliers, Magyar Telekom

Polish-listed developer GTC to complete office building in Hungarian capital Budapest by Q1 2009

Luxembourg-based steel group ArcelorMittal opens HUF 1.5 bln logistics base in Hungary

PRESS: Belgian property firm Liebrecht & Wood enters Romanian logistics market

Hungary-based developer TriGranit to build new shopping center in Moscow

U.K.’s Equest Balkan Properties secures EUR 26 mln financing for Romanian project

Romanian property developer RomReal doubles profit to EUR 28 mln in 2007, ups assets 64%

PRESS: Austrian developer Europolis to invest EUR 100 mln in expanding Hungarian business park

Romanian businessman Eduard Ursescu in talks with Asian investors to build EUR 1.5 bln casino

Hungarian property developer Ablon expects to sell two Romanian projects for up to EUR 345 mln

Hungarian developer Sio Ingatlan to build shopping center in western Hungary’s Siofok

PRESS: Hungarian residential, office property project delayed as developers jailed

PRESS: Hungarian developer TriGranit to build multi-billion euro holiday resort in Montenegro

PRESS: Romanian developer Westhouse Group to build 409 apartments in Constanta

Hungarian property developer Ablon ups net profit 14% y/y to EUR 40.8 mln in 2007

Hungarian developer M-12 to build EUR 0.8-2 mln underground club in Budapest

Belgian food retailer Delhaize Group acquires 14 Romanian supermarkets for EUR 18.6 mln

Hungarian developer Futureal holds off on office projects, plans retail center in Romania

Hungarian oil firm MOL strikes down OMV agenda points for AGM, proposes HUF 85 bln dividend

Hungarian oil and gas company MOL opens first own-branded fuel station in Austria

U.S.’s GE, Greece’s Metka to build EUR 400 mln power plant for Romanian oil firm Petrom

Hungarian retail gasoline prices seen stagnant this week despite rise in global prices

GAS

ANALYST OUTLOOK: Romanian gas pipeline operator Transgaz earns initial "buy" from Raiffeisen

British hydrocarbon exploration firm Matra Petroleum to start drilling at two Hungarian wells

HEAT, POWER & SEWAGE

Austrian-Hungarian energy firm Karpat Energo to launch HUF 50 bln Hungarian power plant project

PRESS: German energy company E.ON’s Romanian unit ups profit 63% y/y in 2007 to EUR 30.9 mln

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Hungary’s market leading mobile operator T-Mobile wins most new clients in February

INTERNET

Hungarian bourse’s BUX index returns to losing ways in past week, down 1.3%

Budapest Stock Exchange share trading 28/03–04/04/2008

FIXED INCOME

Hungary fixed income benchmark yields 28/03–04/04/2008

Hungarian 12-month T-bill auction yield rises to 9.13% on thin demand

Hungarian six-month T-bill auction yield rises to 8.81% on weak demand

Hungarian three-month T-bill auction yield jumps to 8.83%

CURRENCY

Hungarian forint strengthens to EUR/HUF 256.19 Friday, bond yields mixed as markets settle

National Bank of Hungary official exchange rates 28/03–04/04/2008

MONEY MARKET