SEENEWS – news report of 06.05.2008

News report of 06.05.2008

* Albania *

Albanian Insurers 2-mo Gross Premium Income Up 19.7% to 956.6 Mln Leks (7.8 Mln Euro) May 06, 2008, 10:08 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), May 6 (SeeNews) - The gross premium income of Albanian insurers reached 956.57 million leks ($12.15 million/7.83 million euro) in the first two months of 2008, up by 19.7% on the year, official statistics showed on Tuesday. link

Albania Schedule of Events – May 6 - June 4 May 06, 2008, 09:25 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), May 6 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Albania through June 4. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Bosnia *

Bosnia’s Telekom Srpske Posts Q1 Net Profit of 14 Mln Euro May 06, 2008, 12:10 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), May 6 (SeeNews) – Bosnia’s Telekom Srpske, majority-owned by Serbia’s state-controlled Telekom Srbija, had a net profit of 27.48 million marka ($21.7 million/14 million euro) in the first quarter of the year, figures showed on Tuesday. link

Bosnian Brewery Banjalucka Pivara Posts Q1 Loss of 1.8 Mln Euro May 06, 2008, 12:43 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), May 6 (SeeNews) - Bosnian brewery Banjalucka Pivara, owned by London-based fund manager Altima Partners LLP, posted a first-quarter loss of 3.6 million marka ($2.8 million/1.8 million euro) following investments in technology and due to increased costs of raw materials and foreign competition. link

Bosnian Steel Foundry Jelsingrad Turns to Q1 Net Profit - Table May 06, 2008, 12:47 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), May 6 (SeeNews) - Bosnian steel foundry Jelsingrad, owned by Slovenian metal castings producer Livar, swung to a net profit of some 133,000 marka ($105,000/68,000 euro) in the first quarter, from a loss of 283,000 marka in the year-ago period, as revenue grew faster than costs, figures showed on Tuesday. link

Bosnian Electrodes Manufacturer Elvaco Q1 Loss Rises Almost Seven Times Y/Y - Table May 06, 2008, 13:27 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), May 6 (SeeNews) - Elvaco, a Bosnian producer of welding electrodes and steel reinforcements for construction, posted a loss of some 476,000 marka ($376,000/243,000 euro) in the first quarter, up from 71,000 marka in the year-ago period, figures showed on Tuesday. link

Bosnia’s Metal Gradiska Posts Q1 Net Profit of 273,000 Euro May 06, 2008, 13:29 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), May 6 (SeeNews) – Bosnian metal profiles and tools producer Metal Gradiska posted a net profit of some 535,000 marka ($423,000/273,000 euro) for the first quarter of the year, figures showed on Tuesday. link

Bosnian Wholesaler Trznica’s Q1 Net Profit Falls 8.5% Y/Y - Table May 06, 2008, 13:38 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), May 6 (SeeNews) - The first-quarter net profit of Trznica Banja Luka, a Bosnian wholesaler and operator of outdoor markets, fell 8.5% to some 548,000 marka ($433,000/280,000 euro) as costs grew faster than revenue, figures showed on Tuesday. link

Bulgaria’s Pazardzhik BT Places Sole Valid Bid for Bosnian Cigarette Factory Mostar May 06, 2008, 14:11 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), May 6 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian privately-held tobacco processing factory Pazardzhik BT has placed the sole valid bid for the 67% state-owned stake in Bosnian cigarette factory Fabrika Duhana Mostar (FDM), the privatisation agency of Bosnia’s Muslim-Croat Federation said on Tuesday. link

IKEA-backed Firm Only Bidder for Setting up JV with Bosnian Furniture Maker Krivaja May 06, 2008, 17:33 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), May 6 (SeeNews) - Bosnia’s Muslim-Croat Federation said on Tuesday it has received just one valid bid, from local company Ferimpex, backed by the world’s largest furniture retailer IKEA, for setting up a joint venture company with its troubled furniture maker Krivaja. link

Bosnia Schedule of Events – May 6 - Oct 29 May 06, 2008, 10:38 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), May 6 (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 Pazardzhik BT Places Sole Valid Bid for Bosnian Cigarette Factory Mostar May 06, 2008, 14:11 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), May 6 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian privately-held tobacco processing factory Pazardzhik BT has placed the sole valid bid for the 67% state-owned stake in Bosnian cigarette factory Fabrika Duhana Mostar (FDM), the privatisation agency of Bosnia’s Muslim-Croat Federation said on Tuesday. link

* Croatia *

Croatian Banks End-March Loan Portfolio Rises 1.5% M/M, Up 12.2 % Y/Y – RBA May 06, 2008, 12:36 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), May 6 (SeeNews) – The loan portfolio of Croatian commercial banks reached 215.03 billion kuna ($45.5 billion/29.6 billion euro) at the end of March, up 1.5% from a month earlier and 12.2% higher on the year, commercial bank Raiffeisenbank Austria Zagreb (RBA) said on Tuesday. link

Croatia’s Ericsson Nikola Tesla Signs 47 Mln Kuna (6.5 Mln Euro) Deals with Croatian, Russian Companies May 06, 2008, 13:02 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Croatian blue-chip telecoms equipment manufacturer Ericsson Nikola Tesla said on Tuesday it has signed deals worth a total 47.0 million kuna ($10.02 million/6.48million euro) for the supply of equipment and capacity expansion with two Croatian and one Russian telecommunication companies. link

Insurer Croatia Osiguranje’s Q1 Net Profit Gains 8.7%Y/Y to 26.2 Mln Kuna (3.6 Mln Euro) May 06, 2008, 15:41 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Croatia’s top insurer by premium income, majority state-owned Croatia Osiguranje, on Tuesday reported an 8.7% rise in first-quarter 2008 net profit to 26.2 million kuna ($5.6 million/3.6 million euro), compared with a year earlier. link

Hungarian OTP Bank Croatian Unit’s Q1 Net Profit Gains 30.4% Y/Y to 30.2 Mln Kuna (4.2 Mln Euro) May 06, 2008, 15:49 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), May 6 (SeeNews) - The Croatian unit of Hungary’s OTP banking group on Tuesday reported a 30.4 % year-on-year rise in first-quarter 2008 net profit to 30.2 million kuna ($6.4 million/4.2million euro). link

Croatian Share Indices Extend Their Gains May 06, 2008, 18:33 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), May 6 (SeeNews) – Croatian share indices rose further on Tuesday, continuing a positive market trend, market sources said. link

Croatia Schedule of Events – May 6 - June 6 May 06, 2008, 09:56 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Croatia through June 6. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Croatia Sells T-Bills Above Target, Yields Mixed May 06, 2008, 13:36 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Croatia’s Finance Ministry on Tuesday sold 574 million kuna ($122.4 million/79.1 million euro) in Treasury bills, above its target offer of 450 million kuna, as the yield were mixed. link

* Macedonia *

German Companies Urge Macedonia To Improve Its Investment Climate May 06, 2008, 15:13 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), May 6 (SeeNews) - German companies in Macedonia are generally satisfied with Macedonia’s investment climate, but the government in Skopje should do more to attract fresh investments, a poll indicated. link

Macedonia’s TTK Bank Prelim Q1 Net Profit Rises Almost Sixfold - Table May 06, 2008, 15:22 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s TTK bank on Tuesday reported a preliminary net profit of 12.45 million denars ($312,853/201,366 euro) for the first quarter, almost six times higher than a year earlier, mainly due to lower operating costs, the bank said on Tuesday. link

Macedonia’s Jan-March Trade Gap Nearly Doubles to $655.4 Mln - Table May 06, 2008, 12:31 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s trade deficit for the first three months of 2008 rose by 94.6% to $655.4 million (423.9 million euro), from $336.8 million in the same period last year, the Macedonian Statistics Office said. link

Yields Flat on Macedonian 91-Day and 182-Day T-Bills May 06, 2008, 16:45 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Yields on Macedonian three-month and six-month Treasury bills remained unchanged at an auction on Tuesday, central bank data showed. link

Macedonia Schedule of Events - May 6 - Nov 28 May 06, 2008, 09:38 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), May 6 (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

* Romania *

Romania March Tourist Numbers Rise 2.9% Y/Y - Table May 06, 2008, 09:46 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - The number of tourists in Romania in March rose by 2.9% on the year to 462,400, as overnights fell by an annual 11.9% to some 1.05 million, the country’s statistics board INS said on Tuesday. link

Romanian Aircraft Maker Aerostar’s Q1 Net Profit Drops 10 Times Y/Y - Table May 06, 2008, 11:26 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - The first-quarter net profit of Romania’s aircraft manufacturer Aerostar fell to 16,925 lei ($69,300/51,000 euro) from 168,300 lei a year earlier, the company said on Tuesday. link

AFI Europe To Invest Over 700 Mln Euro in Second Real Estate Project in Bucharest May 06, 2008, 13:26 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - AFI Europe, part of Israeli conglomerate Africa Israel Investments, said on Tuesday it plans to invest more than 700 million euro ($1.1 billion) to develop its second real estate project in the Romanian capital until 2010. link

Heineken Romania ’07 Turnover Up 18%, To Invest 50 Mln Euro This Year May 06, 2008, 13:45 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - Heineken Romania said on Tuesday its 2007 turnover rose by 18% to some 700 million lei ($298 million/193 million euro) and it plans to invest 50 million euro ($77 million) this year. link

Romanian Household Appliances Maker VES To Move to Bucharest Stock Exchange from OTC Market on May 8 May 06, 2008, 14:50 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - Romanian household appliances maker VES will start trading its shares on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) on May 8, moving them from the over-the-counter market RASDAQ, the BVB said on Tuesday. link

Romania’s Medicare Technics Sees ’08 Turnover Rising Over 30% to 16.5 Mln Euro May 06, 2008, 15:28 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - Romanian supplier of integrated solutions for the healthcare industry Medicare Technics said on Tuesday it sees turnover rising by more than 30% to 16.5 million euro ($25.5 million) this year, due to high demand for surgical and imaging diagnosis facilities from the private sector. link

Romania’s CEC Bank Q1, ’07 Gross Profits Almost Double May 06, 2008, 15:41 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - Romania’s last state-owned bank, CEC, said on Tuesday its first-quarter gross profit reached 42 million lei ($17.86 million/11.55 million euro) from 24 million in the year-ago period. link

Volksbank Romania’s Q1 Operating Profit Up 70.5% to 7.0 Mln Euro May 06, 2008, 16:17 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - The Romanian unit of Austria’s Volksbank International on Tuesday said its operating profit rose by 70.5% in the first quarter to 7.03 million euro ($10.784 million) against 4.123 million in the year-ago period. link

Romanian Brewer Bere Azuga Plans Doubling Net Profit In 2008 May 06, 2008, 17:57 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - Romanian brewer Bere Azuga said on Tuesday it planned a net profit of 879,480 lei ($374,111/241,845 euro) this year, double the 412,154 lei it reported for 2007 but far below previous expectations. link

Romania’s Q1 GDP Growth Seen at 7.0% - FinMin May 06, 2008, 10:35 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - Romania’s gross domestic product (GDP) is seen growing by a real 7.0% in the first quarter of this year, the country’s Finance and Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian said on Tuesday. link

Romania’s Jan-April Consolidated Budget Surplus at 0.2%/GDP - FinMin May 06, 2008, 16:46 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - Romania ended the first four months of the year with a consolidated budget surplus equivalent to 0.2% of the gross domestic product (GDP) projected for 2008, Finance and Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian said on Tuesday. link

UPDATE 2 - Romania’s C-Bank Raises Key Interest Rate to 9.75% from 9.50%, Defies Analyst Expectations May 06, 2008, 17:25 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds analyst comments, forecasts) link

ROMANIA’S Q1 INDUSTRIAL SALES RISE 1.2% Y/Y – STATS BOARD May 06, 2008, 09:02 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Romania’s Q1 Industrial Sales Rise 1.2% Y/Y - Table May 06, 2008, 09:05 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - Romania’s industrial sales rose by 1.2% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2008, the National Statistics Institute (INS) said on Tuesday. link

ROMANIA’S Q1 CONSOLIDATED BUDGET SURPLUS AT 0.02% OF GDP - FIN MIN May 06, 2008, 10:08 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Romania’s Q1 Consolidated Budget Surplus at 0.02% of GDP - Fin Min May 06, 2008, 10:14 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - Romania had a consolidated budget surplus of 79.2 million lei ($33.7 million/21.8 million euro) in the first three months of 2008, equivalent to 0.02% of the gross domestic product (GDP) projected for the current year, data of the Romanian Finance and Economy Ministry showed on Tuesday. link

ROMANIA’S C-BANK SAYS HIKES KEY INTEREST RATE TO 9.75% FROM 9.5% May 06, 2008, 10:15 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

UPDATE 1 - Romania’s C-Bank Raises Key Interest Rate to 9.75% from 9.50% May 06, 2008, 13:22 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds quotes, details) link

Romania’s Jan-April Consolidated Budget Revenue Rises 44.2% Y/Y May 06, 2008, 18:01 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - Romania’s consolidated budget revenue for the first four months of 2008 rose by 44.2% on the year in nominal terms to 51.88 billion lei ($22.1 billion/14.3 billion euro), Finance Ministry data showed on Tuesday. link

European Commission Takes Steps Against Bulgaria, Romania on Taxation of Dividends May 06, 2008, 18:36 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - The European Commission said on Tuesday it has sent letters of formal notice, the first step of its infringement procedure, to Bulgaria and Romania about rules under which corporate dividends to and from other countries may be taxed more heavily than domestic dividends. link

Romanian Bourse Falls on Key Interest Rate Hike May 06, 2008, 17:47 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - Romanian stocks lost ground on Tuesday following a decision of the country’s central bank, BNR, to raise its key interest rate to 9.75% from 9.5%, brokers said. link

Romania Schedule of Events – May 6 - June 9 May 06, 2008, 09:43 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Romania through June 9. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Romania’s C-Bank Raises Key Interest Rate to 9.75% from 9.5% May 06, 2008, 10:27 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - Romania’s central bank, BNR, said on Tuesday it has decided to raise its key interest rate by 0.25% to 9.75% starting May 7. link

Romanian Leu Ends Weaker vs Euro, Despite C-Bank Rate Hike May 06, 2008, 17:10 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), May 6 (SeeNews) - The Romanian leu lost ground against the euro on Tuesday to close at 3.6600/35 per euro, compared to Monday’s 3.6270/6365, despite a key rate hike of 0.25% to 9.75% by the central bank earlier in the day. link

* Serbia *

Holcim Serbia Cuts 2007 Net Profit 27.4% to 644 Mln Dinars (7.9 Mln Euro) May 06, 2008, 11:57 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), May 6 (SeeNews) – Holcim Serbia, a unit of Swiss cement producer Holcim, cut its net profit by 27.4% to 644 million dinars ($12.2million/7.9million euro) last year due to increased spending, figures showed on Tuesday. link

Serbian Port Operator Luka Beograd 2007 Net Profit Soars 89% to 7.7 Mln Dinars (94,000 Euro) May 06, 2008, 11:58 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), May 6 (SeeNews) – The net profit of Serbian Danube river port operator Luka Beograd rose by 89% to 7.7 million dinars ($145,500/94,000 euro) last year on higher revenue, figures showed on Tuesday. link

SERBIA’S MARCH FOREIGN DEBT RISES TO $28.36 BLN FROM $26.98 BLN IN FEB - C-BANK May 06, 2008, 11:58 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Serbia’s End-March Foreign Debt Rises 5.1% M/M to $28.36 Bln - Table May 06, 2008, 12:06 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Serbia’s foreign debt rose to $28.36 billion (18.32 billion euro) at the end of March from $26.98 billion a month earlier, preliminary figures from the country’s central bank showed on Tuesday. link

SERBIAN BLUE-CHIP AIK BANKA RAISES Q1 NET PROFIT BY 26.5% Y/Y TO 1.3 BLN DINARS (16 MLN EURO) - C-BANK May 06, 2008, 13:10 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

SERBIAN BLUE-CHIP KOMERCIJALNA BANKA Q1 NET PROFIT UP 22.3% Y/Y TO 401 MLN DINARS (4.9 MLN EURO) - C-BANK May 06, 2008, 13:14 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Serbian AIK Banka’s Q1 Net Profit Up 26.5% Y/Y - Table May 06, 2008, 13:24 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Serbian blue-chip bank AIK Banka’s net profit through March was 26.5% higher than a year earlier, reaching 1.3 billion dinars ($25 million/16 million euro), central bank figures indicated on Tuesday. link

Serbia’s Komercijalna Banka Raises Q1 Net Profit 22.3% Y/Y - Table May 06, 2008, 13:32 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Serbian blue-chip bank Komercijalna Banka’s net profit for the first quarter rose 22.3% from a year earlier to 401 million dinars ($7.6 million/4.9 million euro), central bank figures showed on Tuesday. link

SERBIAN AGROBANKA’S Q1 NET PROFIT SOARS OVER EIGHT TIMES Y/Y TO 427 MLN DINARS (5.2 MLN EURO) - C-BANK May 06, 2008, 13:33 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

SERBIA’S UNIVERZAL BANKA LIFTS Q1 NET PROFIT 53% Y/Y TO 205 MLN DINARS (2.5 MLN EURO) - C-BANK May 06, 2008, 13:33 CET | Alert | SeeNews

link

SERBIA’S JUBMES BANKA RAISES Q1 NET PROFIT 15 TIMES Y/Y TO 1.6 BLN DINARS (19.5 MLN EURO) - C-BANK May 06, 2008, 13:46 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

SERBIA’S PRIVREDNA BANKA Q1 NET PROFIT SLUMPS 96% Y/Y TO 1.3 MLN DINARS (15,900 EURO) - C-BANK May 06, 2008, 13:48 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

SERBIA’S METALS BANKA Q1 NET PROFIT UP 9.3% Y/Y TO 118 MLN DINARS (1.4 MLN EURO) - C-BANK May 06, 2008, 13:48 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Serbia’s Univerzal Banka Q1 Net Profit Up 53% Y/Y - Table May 06, 2008, 13:50 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Serbian blue-chip bank Univerzal Banka’s net profit through March was 53% higher than a year earlier, reaching 205 million dinars ($3.9 million/2.5 million euro), central bank figures indicated on Tuesday. link

Serbian Metals Banka’s Q1 Net Profit Up 9.3% Y/Y - Table May 06, 2008, 13:51 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Serbian blue-chip bank Metals Banka had a net profit of 118 million dinars ($2.2million/1.4million euro) in the first quarter, up 9.3% from a year earlier, central bank figures indicated on Tuesday. link

Serbian Privredna Banka’s Q1 Net Profit Slumps 96.1% Y/Y - Table May 06, 2008, 13:54 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Serbian blue-chip bank Privredna Banka’s net profit through March slumped 96.1% from a year earlier, reaching 1.3 million dinars ($24,600/15,900 euro), central bank figures indicated on Tuesday. link

Serbian Agrobanka’s Q1 Net Profit Up Over Eight Times Y/Y - Table May 06, 2008, 13:57 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Serbian blue-chip bank Agrobanka’s net profit soared over eight times year-on-year to 427 million dinars ($8.5 million/5.2 million euro) for the first quarter, as income sharply rose, central bank figures indicated on Tuesday. link

Serbian Jubmes Banka’s Q1 Net Profit Up 15 Times Y/Y - Table May 06, 2008, 13:59 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Serbian blue-chip bank Jubmes Banka had 1.6 billion dinars ($30.2million/19.5 million euro) in net profit through March, up 15 times from a year earlier, central bank figures indicated on Tuesday. link

Serbia To Grant 10 Year Tax Holiday to Italian Car Maker Fiat May 06, 2008, 16:43 CET | Story | SeeNews KRAGUJEVAC (Serbia), May 6 (SeeNews) – The municipality of the central Serbian town of Kragujevac on Tuesday said it will grant ten years of tax free business to Italian car major Fiat, which is to invest in local car maker Zastava. link

SERBIA’S APRIL INDUSTRIAL PPI UP 1.0% M/M, SLOWER THAN 1.7% MONTHLY RISE IN MARCH - STATS OFFICE May 06, 2008, 16:23 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Serbia’s April Industrial Producer Prices Up 1.0% M/M - Table May 06, 2008, 16:27 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Serbia’s April producer prices for the industrial sector rose by 1.0% from a month earlier and were 13.4% higher on the year, the country’s statistics office said on Tuesday. link

Belgrade Share Indices End Lower Ahead of Sunday’s Elections May 06, 2008, 17:22 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) indices closed down again on Tuesday in dull trading and brokers expect a tedious week marked by tiny volumes and stagnation ahead of Sunday’s early general elections. link

Serbia Schedule of Events - May 6 - June 4 May 06, 2008, 10:18 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), May 6 (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 *

Fitch Affirms Ratings of Slovenia’s Top Bank NLB Despite Planned Sale of KBC’s Stake May 06, 2008, 12:01 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Fitch on Tuesday affirmed the ratings of Slovenia’s largest bank by assets, Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB), despite the planned sale of the stake held by Belgian banking group KBC in NLB. link

Slovenian Stock Indices Rise Further in Higher Turnover May 06, 2008, 18:37 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Slovenian stock indices rose for a second day running in higher turnover on Tuesday with all blue chips gaining, brokers said. link

Slovenia Schedule of Events – May 6 - June 9 May 06, 2008, 09:10 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), May 6 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Slovenia through June 9. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Austria’s Hypo Alpe-Adria Bank Names New CEO in Slovenia May 05, 2008, 18:53 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), May 5 (SeeNews) - Austria’s Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank (HAAB) has named Anton Romih new director general of its Slovenian unit to replace Bozidar Span, the Slovenian unit said on Monday. link

Useful advice:

Seenews