SEENEWS – news report of 15.04.2008

News report of 15.04.2008

* Bosnia *

Bosnia Federation Feb Tourist Numbers Rise 12% Y/Y - Table Apr 15, 2008, 11:52 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), April 15 (SeeNews) - The number of tourists staying in Bosnia’s Muslim-Croat Federation in February rose by 12% on the year to 19,177, official statistics showed on Tuesday. link

Bosnia Federation March CPI Rises 0.91% M/M, Up 7.40% Y/Y - Table Apr 15, 2008, 10:12 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), April 15 (SeeNews) - Consumer prices in Bosnia’s Muslim-Croat Federation in March rose by 0.91% month-on-month and were 7.40% higher on the year, the Federal Statistics Office said on Tuesday. link

Bosnia’s Federation March Industrial Output Falls 5.7% Y/Y, Down 3.8% M/M - Table Apr 15, 2008, 11:38 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), April 15 (SeeNews) - The industrial output of Bosnia’s Muslim-Croat Federation fell in March by 5.7% year-on-year and was down 3.8% compared to the previous month, official statistics indicated on Tuesday. link

Bosnia Federation March Producer Prices Rise 0.6% M/M, Up 6.3% Y/Y - Table Apr 15, 2008, 11:53 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), April 15 (SeeNews) - Producer prices in Bosnia’s Muslim-Croat Federation rose in March by 0.6% month-on-month and were 6.3% higher than in March 2007, official statistics indicated on Tuesday. link

Bosnia Federation Feb Avg Net Salary Up 0.5% M/M - Table Apr 15, 2008, 15:36 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), April 15 (SeeNews) - The average net monthly salary in Bosnia’s Muslim-Croat Federation rose 0.5% month-on-month to 713.20 marka ($576/364 euro) in February after going up by 1.9% in January, official statistics showed on Tuesday. link

Bosnia Federation Feb Jobless Numbers Fall 0.4% M/M, Down 1.6% Y/Y - Table Apr 15, 2008, 16:00 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), April 15 (SeeNews) – Officially unemployed in Bosnia’s Muslim-Croat Federation in February numbered 365,232, down 0.4% month-on-month and 1.6% less on the year, official statistics showed on Tuesday. link

Bosnia Schedule of Events – April 15 – Oct 29 Apr 15, 2008, 09:26 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), April 15 (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 *

Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Daily Bulletin, Selected Announcements - April 14, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 09:34 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Bulgarian River Shipping AD-Ruse, BSE code - BRP, notified through X3 News of the following:After a competition held pursuant to the Public Procurement Act, Kozloduy NPP EAD has chosen Bulgarian River Shipping AD to be the main carrier on the Danube River of fresh and processed fuel deliveries for the plant.The entire notification is available at link

link

Bulgarian DSK Bank Gets 140 Mln Euro Syndicated Loan Apr 15, 2008, 13:23 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 15 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian commercial DSK Bank, owned by Hungarian banking group OTP, has borrowed 140 million euro ($221.8 million) to back lending operations, an official said on Tuesday. link

Australia’s Balkans Gold Says Project in Bulgaria Yields Significant Results Apr 15, 2008, 13:41 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 15 (SeeNews) - Australian mineral exploration company Balkans Gold said on Tuesday its Breznik project in Bulgaria has yileded significant results and reported gold assay results of 1.15 to 1.4 grammes per tonne gold from three ancient workings and 4.0 to 4.8 grammes per tonne gold at five trenches at Breznik. link

Bulgaria’s End-June Number of Bank Cards in Use Up 11.6% from End-’06 Apr 15, 2008, 14:09 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 15 (SeeNews) - The number of debit and credit cards in use in Bulgaria was 6,560,786 at the end of June 2007, up 11.6% from the end of 2006, the country’s central bank said. link

BULGARIAN CHEMICAL FERTILISERS PRODUCER NEOCHIM SAYS SEES ’08 SALES UP 45%, PROPOSES HIGHER ’07 DIVIDEND Apr 15, 2008, 15:34 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Bulgaria’s Neochim Sees 2008 Sales Up 45%, Proposes Higher 2007 Dividend Apr 15, 2008, 16:04 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 15 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian blue-chip chemical fertilisers producer Neochim on Tuesday said it expects its sales to grow 45% to 267.97 million levs ($216.7 million/137.1 million euro) this year and proposed to pay higher 2007 dividend. link

Bulgaria’s Investra To Invest 40 Mln Euro in Two Business Parks Apr 15, 2008, 17:27 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 14 (SeeNews) – Bulgarian investment company Investra will lock 40 million euro ($63.2 million) in two business parks in Bulgaria, the company said on Tuesday. link

Bulgarian Brewers Union Q1 Beer Sales Up 1.68% Y/Y Apr 15, 2008, 17:59 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 15 (SeeNews) - The members of the Union of Brewers in Bulgaria (UBB) sold 902,889 hectolitres of beer in the first quarter of 2008, up 1.68% from a year earlier, UBB said on Tuesday. link

Bulgarian NSI - Indices of Real Final Expenditure - European Comparisons Program - April 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 10:22 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Statistics Institute (NSI) has published its report on indices of real final expenditure for 2005. link

Bulgarian NSI - Purchasing Power Parities - European Comparisons Programme - April 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 10:19 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Statistics Institute (NSI) has published its report on purchasing power parities for 2005. link

Bulgarian NSI - Price Level Indices - European Comparisons Program - April 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 10:20 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Statistics Institute (NSI) has published its report on price level indices for 2005. link

Bulgarian National Bank - Weekly Balance Sheet of Issue Dept - April 11, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 10:23 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has published the balance sheet of its issue department as of April 11, 2008. link

Bulgarian NSI - Harmonized Indices of Consumer Prices - Mar 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 10:35 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Statistics Institute (NSI) has published its report on harmonized indices of consumer prices for March 2008. link

Bulgarian NSI - Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices Serias by Months - January 1997 - March 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 10:36 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Statistics Institute (NSI) has published its report on harmonized index of consumer prices serias by months from January 1997 to March 2008. link

Bulgarian NSI - Consumer Price Index Series by Months, May 1990 - March 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 10:41 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Statistics Institute (NSI) has published its report on consumer price index series by months from May 1990 to March 2008. link

Bulgarian NSI - Consumer Price Indices for March 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 10:42 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Statistics Institute (NSI) has published its report on consumer price indices for March 2008. link

Bulgarian NSI - Consumer Price Indices by Months of 2008 - Mar 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 10:45 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Statistics Institute (NSI) has published its report on consumer price indices by months for March, 2008. link

BULGARIA’S JAN-FEB C/A GAP FLAT AT 3.9%/GDP - C-BANK Apr 15, 2008, 11:06 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Bulgaria’s Jan-Feb C/A Gap Flat at 3.9% of GDP Apr 15, 2008, 11:13 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 15 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria’s current account deficit was equivalent to a preliminary 3.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP) projected for 2008, unchanged from a year earlier, central bank data showed on Tuesday. link

UPDATE 1 - Bulgaria’s Jan-Feb C/A Flat at 3.9% of GDP - Table Apr 15, 2008, 11:32 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 15 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria’s current account deficit was equivalent to a preliminary 3.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP) projected for 2008, unchanged from a year earlier, central bank data showed on Tuesday. link

Bulgarian National Bank - Balance of Payments - Feb 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 13:40 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Current and Capital Account link

Bulgarian National Bank - Foreign Direct Investment - Feb 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 14:04 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews According to preliminary data, the Foreign direct investment in Bulgaria for January – February 2008 amounted to EUR 432.3 million (1.3% of GDP) compared to EUR 374.9 million (1.3% of GDP) attracted in January – February 2007. link

Bulgaria Repays Early 4.580 Bln Yen (28.6 Mln Euro) Debt to JBIC Apr 15, 2008, 14:13 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 15 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria said on Tuesday it has paid early 4.580 billion Japanese yen ($45.4 million/28.6 million euro) worth of debt owed to Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). link

Bulgarian National Bank - Real Effective Exchange Rate Index - Feb 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 14:41 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has published its report on the real effective exchange rate index for February, 2008. link

Bulgarian NSI - Total Households Income for February 2007 and 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 14:41 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Statistics Institute (NSI) has published its report on consumer price indices by months for February 2008. link

BULGARIA’S MARCH JOBLESS RATE AT 6.79% VS 8.92% YR-AGO - LABOUR MINISTER Apr 15, 2008, 16:09 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Bulgaria’s March Jobless Rate Falls to 6.79% from 8.92% Yr-Ago - Labour Minister Apr 15, 2008, 16:49 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 15 (SeeNews) -Bulgaria’s March unemployment rate fell to 6.79% from 8.92% a year earlier, Bulgaria’s Labour Minister said on Tuesday. link

Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Daily Report - April 14, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 08:56 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Bulgarian Stock Exchange has published its report on turnover and prices for April 14, 2008. link

Elana - Bulgaria Daily Report - April 14, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 09:30 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Market Highlights link

FFBH - Bulgaria Morning Update - April 15, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 10:00 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews MARKET WRAP-UP link

KD Securities - Sofia Stock Exchange Weekly Report - April 7 - 11, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 10:10 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews 1. SOFIA STOCK EXCHANGE EVOLUTION link

Bulgarian Stock Indices Lose Ground in Portfolio Restructuring Mood Apr 15, 2008, 15:41 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 15 (SeeNews) - All four Bulgarian stock indices lost ground on Tuesday as sellers prevailed in portfolio restructuring, brokers said. link

Bulgaria Schedule of Events - April 15 - Nov 25 Apr 15, 2008, 09:04 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 15 (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

Bulgarian Steel Mill Kremikovtzi Workers Go on Strike over Unpaid Wages - Media Apr 15, 2008, 10:32 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), April 15 (SeeNews) - Some 2,000 workers of Bulgaria’s debt-ridden steel mill Kremikovtzi on Tuesday went on strike over a delay in the payment of their salaries, state-run news agency BTA reported. link

* Croatia *

Croatia’s Konstruktor To Be Main Contractor in 250 Mln Euro Real Estate Project in Kosovo Apr 15, 2008, 13:09 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 15 (SeeNews) – Croatian construction company Konstruktor Inzinjering will be the main building contractor in a 250 milion euro ($396 million) real estate project in the Kosovo’s capital Pristina, the Croatian Chamber of Economy said on Tuesday. link

Croatia Offers Spa Operator Bizovacke Toplice for Sale at Token Price Apr 15, 2008, 14:38 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 15 (SeeNews) - Croatia offered for sale 99.41% of its indebted spa operator Bizovacke Toplice at a token price of one kuna ($0.2182/0.1377 euro) after the previous offer failed to attract investors, the Croatian Privatisation Fund said. link

Croatian HPB Boosts Capital of Telecom H1 by 96% Apr 15, 2008, 16:27 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 15 (SeeNews) – Croatian majority state-owned postal bank Hrvatska Postanska Banka (HPB) has entered the shareholders’ structure of privately-owned fixed-line telecom H1 and captured 41.25% of its capital, the telecom said on Tuesday. link

CROATIA’S MARCH CPI +0.6% M/M, +5.7% Y/Y VS. -0.1% M/M, +5.8% Y/Y IN FEB - STATS OFFICE Apr 15, 2008, 10:16 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Croatia’s March CPI Rises 0.6% M/M, Up 5.7% Y/Y - Table Apr 15, 2008, 10:34 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 15 (SeeNews) - Croatia’s March consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.6% month-on-month, after decreasing by a monthly 0.1% in February, the State Statistics Bureau said on Tuesday. link

UPDATE 1 - Croatia’s March CPI Rises 0.6% M/M, Up 5.7% Y/Y - Table Apr 15, 2008, 10:48 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds breakdown figures) link

Croatia Sells T-Bills Above Target, Yields Flat Apr 15, 2008, 13:22 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 15 (SeeNews) - Croatia’s Finance Ministry on Tuesday sold 257 million kuna ($56.1 million/35.4 million euro) in one-year Treasury bills, above its target offer of 250 million kuna, as yields remained unchanged. link

UPDATE 2 - Croatia’s March CPI Rises 0.6% M/M, Up 5.7% Y/Y - Table Apr 15, 2008, 14:43 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds comments) link

FIMA Stock Monitor - Daily - April 14, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 08:58 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Daily comment: link

Erste Securities - Croatian Equity Daily - April 15, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 10:03 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Highlights: link

Croatian Shares Bounce Back After Monday’s Sell-off Apr 15, 2008, 17:37 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 15 (SeeNews) - The Croatian stock market rebounded on Tuesday after suffering a massive sell-off on Monday, analysts said, adding that there was room for further recovery.. link

Croatia Schedule of Events - April 15 - June 4 Apr 15, 2008, 09:10 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 15 (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 *

Macedonian Conservative VMRO-DPMNE Leads ahead of June 1 Snap Elections - Poll Apr 15, 2008, 15:32 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), April 15 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s governing conservative VMRO-DPMNE party has the highest support rating among voters a month and a half ahead of early elections, a survey conducted by Skopje-based NGO Institute of Democracy indicated on Tuesday. link

S&P Says Macedonia’s Snap Elections Have No Immediate Effect on Ratings Apr 14, 2008, 19:33 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), April 14 (SeeNews) – International rating agency Standard & Poor’s on Monday said early elections in Macedonia have no immediate effect on the country ratings. link

Macedonian Stock Exchange - Daily Report - April 14, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 08:57 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Macedonian Stock Exchange has published its report on turnover and prices for April 14, 2008. link

Macedonia Schedule of Events April 15 –Nov 28 Apr 15, 2008, 09:08 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), April 15 (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

Macedonia’s Feb Tourist Numbers Rise 28.4% Y/Y - Table Apr 15, 2008, 13:26 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), April 15 (SeeNews) – The number of tourists in Macedonia in February rose by 28.4% on the year to 26,936, the Statistics Office reported. link

* Moldova *

Russia’s Gazprom Raises Gas Price for Moldova by 11.5% in Q2 Apr 15, 2008, 12:25 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), April 15 (SeeNews) - Russian gas giant Gazprom has raised the price of natural gas supplies to Moldova to $213 (134 euro) per 1,000 cubic metres for the second quarter of this year from the $191 the country paid in the first quarter, the Moldovan energy regulator ANRE said on Tuesday. link

Moldova’s Gas Utility Turns to 634 Mln Lei (39 Mln Euro) Net Profit in 2007 on Weak Dollar Apr 15, 2008, 16:23 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), April 15 (SeeNews) – Moldovan gas utility Moldovagaz turned to a 634 million lei ($61 million/39 million euro) net profit last year from a 200.6 million lei loss in 2006, helped by a weaker U.S. dollar versus the local currency, Moldova’s energy regulator ANRE said on Tuesday. link

Moldovan Cannery Alfa Nistru Net Profit Rises 12.3% in 2007 - Table Apr 15, 2008, 16:32 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), April 15 (SeeNews) - The net profit of Moldovan fruit and vegetables cannery Alfa Nistru rose by 12.3% last year to 16.8 million lei ($1.6 million/1.0 million euro), the company said on Tuesday. link

Moldova Sells 45 Mln Lei (2.7 Mln Euro) in T-Bills, Yields Fall Apr 15, 2008, 16:42 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), April 15 (SeeNews) - The Moldovan central bank, BNM, on Tuesday sold 45 million lei ($4.3 million/2.7 million euro) in three Treasury bill issues, as yields fell. link

Moldova Schedule of Events - April 15 - May 21 Apr 15, 2008, 09:51 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), April 15 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in, or related to Moldova through May 21. New or amended entries are marked (*) link

* Montenegro *

S&P Revises Outlook on Montenegro to Negative on Macroeconomic External Imbalances Apr 14, 2008, 19:17 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), April 14 (SeeNews) – Standard & Poor’s on Monday said it has revised its outlook on Montenegro to negative from stable on the back of rising macroeconomic imbalances. link

Central Bank of Montenegro - Monthly Bulletin - Feb 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 13:35 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Central Bank of Montenegro has published its monthly bulletin for February 2008. link

Monstat - Monthly Statistical Review - Feb 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 14:03 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews INTRODUCTIONStatistical Office of Montenegro publishes statistical data for Montenegro in the MONTHLY STATISTICAL REVIEW. These are the official statistical data collected and processed according to the Programme of Statistical Surveys as the result of official statistical services.Statistical data in the MONTHLY STATISTICAL REVIEW are presented in annual, quarterly and monthly series and are systemized in two parts. The Annual series of data cover 3-5 last consecutive years. Quarterly series refer to quarters in the previous and current year, and monthly series include period of thirteen months from the previous and current year. Where necessary, shor explanatins are given below the tables.Besides data collected by the Statistical Office of Montenegro - MONSTAT, this issue of MONTHLY STATISTICAL REVIEW also publishes data from Employment Agency and Central Bank of Montenegro. Data for the current year are usually preliminary, so minor errors are possible and are gradually co rrected in the following numbers, and they are marked with the small star in the number of the MONTHLY STATISTICAL REVIEW where the correction has been made.The contents of the publication is adapted to the international needs and obligations regarding the application of the Classification of Activities (NACE, REV1), used since January 2001.Since January 2008, the MONTHLY STATISTICAL REVIEW contains new contents and has been translated into English language. link

Monstat - Monthly Statistical Review - Mar 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 14:04 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews INTRODUCTIONStatistical Office of Montenegro publishesstatistical data for Montenegro in the MONTHLY STATISTICAL REVIEW. These are the official statistical data collected and processed according to the Programme of Statistical Surveys as the result of official statistical services.Statistical data in the MONTHLY STATISTICAL REVIEW are presented in annual, quarterly and monthly series and are systemized in two parts. The Annual series of data cover 3-5 last consecutive years. Quarterly series refer to quarters in the previous and current year, and monthly series include period of thirteen months from the previous and current year. Where necessary, shor explanatins are given below the tables.Besides data collected by the Statistical Office of Montenegro - MONSTAT, this issue of MONTHLY STATISTICAL REVIEW also publishes data from Employment Agency and Central Bank of Montenegro.Data for the current year are usually preliminary, so minor errors are possible and are gradually corr ected in the following numbers, and they are marked with the small star in the number of the MONTHLY STATISTICAL REVIEW where the correction has been made.The contents of the publication is adapted to the international needs and obligations regarding the application of the Classification of Activities (NACE, REV1), used since January 2001.Since January 2008, the MONTHLY STATISTICAL REVIEW contains new contents and has been translated into English language. link

Montenegro Sees FDI at 5.0 Bln Euro in 2008-11 Apr 15, 2008, 12:23 CET | Story | SeeNews VIENNA (Austria), April 15 (SeeNews) - Montenegro hopes to attract at least 5.0 billion euro ($7.9 billion) of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the period 2008 to 2011 and at least 30 billion euro in 2008 to 2030, the head of the Montenegrin Investment Promotion Agency (MIPA) said on Tuesday. link

New Securities Exchange of Montenegro - Daily Report - April 14, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 09:46 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews New Securities Exchange of Montenegro (NEX) has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for April 14, 2008. link

* Romania *

STOCKWATCH - Raiffeisen Capital & Investment Keeps SocGen’s Romanian Unit at ’Buy’, Downgrades Banca Transilvania to ’Hold’ Apr 15, 2008, 14:51 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 15 (SeeNews) - Raiffeisen Capital & Investment (RCI) said on Tuesday it has maintained its recommendation for Societe Generale’s Romanian unit BRD-GSG at ‘Buy’ and has downgraded its recommendation on Banca Transilvania from ‘Buy’ to ‘Hold’. link

ANALYST COMMENTS - S&P Keeps Outlook on Romania Negative, Affirms Sovereign Ratings Apr 14, 2008, 19:10 CET | Analysis | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 14 (SeeNews) - Following are analyst comments on Standard & Poor’s decision to affirm Romania’s local and foreign currencies ratings at ’BBB-/A-3’ and keep the outlook negative due to political environment hindering response to overheating and difficult global credit conditions. link

Dutch-based Vimetco, British-Romanian Interagro Set Up JV To Build Power Plant Apr 15, 2008, 12:07 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 15 (SeeNews) - Dutch-based aluminium producer Vimetco said on Tuesday it established a 50/50 joint venture with British-Romanian company InterAgro to build a coal-fired power plant in southwestern Romania. link

Romania’s Comelf To Pay 41% Higher ’07 Gross Dividend, Sees ’08 Gross Profit Up 31% - Table Apr 15, 2008, 13:09 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 15 (SeeNews) - Comelf, a Romanian manufacturer of mining and construction equipment, said on Tuesday it will pay a gross dividend of 0.0913 lei ($0.04/0.0253 euro) for 2007, 41% higher on the year, and expects its 2008 gross profit to rise 31% to 2.08 million euro ($3.3 million). link

Renault’s Dacia Car Sales Rise 37% in Q1 Apr 15, 2008, 13:32 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 15 (SeeNews) - French car maker Renault said on Tuesday worldwide sales under its Romanian brand Dacia increased by 37% in the first quarter of the year to 62,635 vehicles. link

Romania’s Petrom Starts Building 130 Mln Euro Headquarters Apr 15, 2008, 14:06 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 15 (SeeNews) - Romania’s largest oil group Petrom, majority-owned by Austria’s OMV, on Tuesday said it has started construction works on a 130 million euro ($206 million) headquarters in the Romanian capital Bucharest. link

Romanian Chemical Company Sinteza To Skip Dividend Again, Sees ’08 Net Profit Down 49%% Apr 15, 2008, 17:15 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 15 (SeeNews) - Romanian chemical company Sinteza on Tuesday said it plans to pay no dividend for last year and expects its net profit to fall by 49% this year to 252,000 lei ($110,441/ 69,723 euro). link

Romanian Building Material Firm Teraplast Sees 2008 Net Profit Rising 68% Apr 15, 2008, 18:14 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 15 (SeeNews) - Romanian polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polypropylene (PP) construction material maker Teraplast, whose initial public offering (IPO) on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) is underway, sees its net profit this year rising 68% to some 27 million lei ($11.8 million/7.45 million euro), the IPO’s manager said on Tuesday. link

Romanian National Bank - Business Climate Survey, Mar 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 13:03 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews March 2008: Favourable Developments of Key Indicators in Industry and ConstructionFor March, the estimates of company managers polled by the National Bank of Romania show a broadly optimistic outlook on key indicators in industry and construction.Industrial outputis expected to have further a positive dynamics, as illustrated by the balance of answers* standing at 30 percent. The volume of orders in industry is seen increasing, given the 2.6 time pick-up in the balance of answers over the previous month to 22 percent, with external orders seen as a contributor to this development. Against the background of more favourable weather conditions, the order portfolio and the volume of construction work are set to resume their upward trend.For March, the estimates on stocksof finished goods are divergent, showing a potential absorption across industry – for the first time in 12 months, the balance of answers slipped to a negative reading of -11 percent –, and a slight increase i n construction, where the balance of answers is positive, standing at +11 percent; nevertheless, the developments in these indicators are seen remaining broadly unchanged from the previous month in the opinion of almost three-fourths of respondents. Stocks of raw materials are foreseen to range within normal limits in both sectors, according to almost 93 percent of the polled managers.The chief factors stymieing output growth in both sectors will be the subdued demand (revealed by 18 percent of respondents), inter-company arrears and the exchange rate movements.Respondents foresee staff numbersto keep decreasing steadily in March in industry, as shown by the negative balance of answers (-11 percent); however, more than half of companies will not cut jobs. By contrast, the polled managers expect an increase in staff numbers in construction, largely due to seasonal factors (+36 percent).For March, expectations hint at further hikes in producer prices in both industry and const ruction, as shown by the balances of answers standing at +35 perce and +26 percent respectively. The developments in these indicators are seen remaining broadly unchanged, according to more than 60 percent of the company managers in industry and three-fourths of those in construction.Over the period, investments in industry are expected to grow more rapidly than in February, as illustrated by the marked rise in the positive balance of answers to 43 percent, whereas in construction investment-related spending is not foreseen to post significant changes, with the balance of answers coming in at -3 percent. The upward trend in profitability ratio in industry is likely to come to a halt in March (the balance of answers standing at almost nil). In construction, the beginning of the warm season is expected to bring about a halt in the downward trend of this indicator (the balance of answers running at -8 percent in March, versus an average of -42 percent in January-February 2008). link

Romanian INS - Prices Statistical Bulletin - Feb 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 07:07 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Romanian National Institute of Statistics (INS) has released its monthly Prices Statistical Bulletin for February 2008. link

Romanian INS - International Trade of Goods in Romania - Feb 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 07:07 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews February 2008In February 2008, according to preliminary estimationsof the National Institute of Statistics, FOB exports amounted to 10253.9 million lei (2782.2 million euro) and CIF imports amounted to 15629.2 million lei (4242.2 million euro). Compared to February 2007, exports increased by 30.9% in lei (20.3% in euro) and imports went up by 24.2% in lei (14.2% in euro), being the third consecutive month in which the exports dynamics went beyond the imports dynamics. Compared to January 2008, in February 2008, exports increased by 14.0% in lei (13.2% in euro) and imports decreased by 10.4% in lei (9.7% in euro).The Period January 1 – February 29 2008During 1.I-29.II 2008, FOB exportsamounted to 19248.4 million lei (5240.6 million euro) and CIF imports amounted to 29780.1 million lei (8110.8 million euro). Compared to the corresponding period of 2007, in 2008 exports increased by 29.3% in lei (19.4% in euro) and imports increased by 22.4% in lei (13.1% in euro).During 1.I-2 9.II 2008, the FOB-CIF commercial deficit was 10531.7 million lei (2870.2 million euro), 1094.8 million lei (90.0 million euro) higher than that of the period 1.I-28.II 2007.During 1.I-29.II 2008, the trade of goods between Member States amounted to 13646.1 million lei (3716.4 million euro) for dispatches and to 20885.6 million lei (5688.5 million euro) for arrivals, representing over 70% of total exports and imports, respectively.The difference between the dynamics determined based on the values expressed in lei and that determined based on the value expressed in euro is a consequence of the depreciation of the national currency by 8.8% in January 2008 and by 8.0% in February 2008 as to the corresponding months of 2007. link

ROMANIA’S JAN-FEB C/A GAP WIDENS TO 2.193 BLN EURO FROM 2.076 BLN EURO YR AGO - C-BANK Apr 15, 2008, 09:44 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

ROMANIA’S FOREIGN DEBT RISES TO 38.912 BLN EURO AT END-FEB FROM 38.175 BLN EURO AT END-2007 - C-BANK Apr 15, 2008, 09:45 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Romania’s Jan-Feb C/A Deficit Rises 5.6% Y/Y to 2.193 Bln Euro - Table Apr 15, 2008, 10:00 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 15 (SeeNews) - Romania’s current account deficit for the first two months of the year rose by 5.6% on the year to 2.193 billion euro ($3.5 billion), due to a widening income balance gap, the country’s central bank said on Tuesday. link

Romania’s Foreign Debt Rises to 38.912 Bln Euro at End-Feb - Table Apr 15, 2008, 10:10 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 15 (SeeNews) - Romania’s long- and medium-term foreign debt totalled 38.912 billion euro ($61.7 billion) at the end of February, up by 1.9% from the end of 2007, the country’s central bank said on Tuesday. link

ROMANIA’S JAN-FEB FDI AT 1.218 BLN EURO - C-BANK Apr 15, 2008, 10:35 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

UPDATE 1 - Romania’s Jan-Feb C/A Deficit Rises 5.6% Y/Y to 2.193 Bln Euro Apr 15, 2008, 10:41 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds details) link

Romanian National Bank - Balance of Payments, Feb 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 12:53 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Romanian National Bank has released its monthly report on balance of payments for February 2008. link

Bucharest Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Regulated Market - April 14, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 08:56 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Bucharest Stock Exchange has published its report on trading volumes and prices on the regulated market for April 14, 2008. link

Ieba Trust - Romanian Market Daily - April 14, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 09:23 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews BSE indices declined by more than 3.3% link

Ieba Trust - Romanian Market Weekly - April 7 - 11, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 09:27 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews 1A. Bucharest Stock Exchange Indicators link

Raiffeisen Capital & Investment - Investment Daily Romania - April 15, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 09:29 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Trader’s Comment link

Bucharest Stock Exchange - Daily Report - RASDAQ Market - April 14, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 09:49 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Bucharest Stock Exchange has published its RASDAQ daily market report for April 14, 2008. link

Romanian National Bank - Developments on Romanian Financial Markets, April 7 - 11, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 10:33 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Bank of Romania BNR has released its weekly report on the developments on the local financial markets for the week April 7- 11 2008. link

Romanian Bourse Closes Up but Stocks Still Too Cheap Apr 15, 2008, 16:08 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 15 (SeeNews) - The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) stopped its downward path as bargain hunters moved in after five days of falls, but brokers said stock prices are still too low. link

Romania Schedule of Events - April 15 - June 4 Apr 15, 2008, 09:09 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 15 (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 Ends Flat vs Euro, Unaffected by C/A Gap Data Apr 15, 2008, 16:43 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 15 (SeeNews) - The Romanian leu on Tuesday ended virtually flat against the euro, unaffected by current account deficit data from earlier in the day, dealers said. link

Romanian Government List - Updated April 15, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 14:55 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), April 15 (SeeNews) - Updates with Lazar Comanescu taking oath of office as foreign minister as of April 15. link

* Serbia *

Croatia’s Konstruktor To Be Main Contractor in 250 Mln Euro Real Estate Project in Kosovo Apr 15, 2008, 13:09 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), April 15 (SeeNews) – Croatian construction company Konstruktor Inzinjering will be the main building contractor in a 250 milion euro ($396 million) real estate project in the Kosovo’s capital Pristina, the Croatian Chamber of Economy said on Tuesday. link

Serbian Statistics - Indices of Retail Prices - Mar 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 14:39 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Retail prices in March 2008 March 31, 2008 link

Belgrade Stock Exchange - Daily Report - April 14, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 08:55 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Belgrade Stock Exchange has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for April 14, 2008 link

Vojvodjanska Banka - Daily Vobnews - April 15, 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 09:59 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Vojvodjanska banka released its Daily Vobnews Report for April 15, 2008 containing the following charts and tables: link

Belgrade Share Indices Mostly Fall in Higher Volumes Apr 15, 2008, 17:50 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), April 15 (SeeNews) - The indices on the Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) ended mostly down in higher volumes on Tuesday with market players remaining cautious due to political instability in Serbia, brokers said. link

* Slovenia *

Slovenian Bank NLB Raises Q1 Group Pre-tax Profit by 4.0% Y/Y Apr 15, 2008, 11:25 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 15 (SeeNews) - Slovenia’s largest bank by assets, Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB), raised its group pre-tax profit in the first quarter of 2008 by 4.0% year-on-year to 52.7 million euro ($83.6), it said late on Monday. link

Slovenian Drug Wholesaler Salus Proposes To Pay 2007 Gross Dividend of 40 Euro/Share Apr 15, 2008, 11:48 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 15 (SeeNews) - Slovenian drug wholesaler Salus will propose to pay a gross dividend of 40 euro ($63) per ordinary share for 2007, up from 25 euro it paid for the previous year, the company said on Tuesday. link

Slovenia’s Abanka Vipa Raises Jan-Feb Parent Pre-tax Profit by 3.0% Apr 15, 2008, 11:49 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 15 (SeeNews) - Slovenia’s third-largest bank by assets, Abanka Vipa, raised its parent pre-tax profit in the first two months of 2008 by 3.0% year-on-year to 9.448 million euro ($14.98 million), it said on Tuesday. link

Slovenia Awards 3G Licence to Tusmobil Apr 15, 2008, 13:58 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 15 (SeeNews) - Slovenia has given for free a UMTS licence to local mobile phone operator Tusmobil for a period of 15 years, the telco market regulator, APEK, said on Tuesday. link

Slovenia’s Top Reinsurer Pozavarovalnica Sava To Raise Capital by 50% in Five Years Apr 15, 2008, 14:46 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 15 (SeeNews) - Slovenia’s largest reinsurer Pozavarovalnica Sava plans to raise its nominal capital by 50% to 49.2 million euro ($78 million) within five years, the company said on Tuesday. link

Slovenian IMAD - Slovenian Economic Mirror - Mar 2008 Apr 15, 2008, 10:17 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Slovenian Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development has published its Slovenian Economic Mirror for March 2008. link

Slovenia’s Feb Construction Output Up Real 41.6% Y/Y - Table Apr 15, 2008, 12:10 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 15 (SeeNews) - Slovenia’s February construction output, measured by the value of completed projects, rose by a real 41.6% year-on-year, the Slovenian Statistics Office said on Tuesday. link

Slovenia’s Feb Avg Net Salary Rises by Nominal 9.0% Y/Y - Table Apr 15, 2008, 12:24 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), April 15 (SeeNews) - Slovenia’s February average net monthly salary rose by a nominal 9.0% on the year to 864.50 euro ($1,371) and remained almost unchanged from a month earlier, the Slovenian Statistics Office said on Tuesday. link

Slovenian Statistical Office - Indices of the Value of Construction Put in Place - Feb 2008 - Provisional Apr 15, 2008, 13:06 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews In comparison with February 2007, the value of construction put in place in February 2008 increased by more than 41%.Value of construction put in place in February 2008 increased by almost 13% over January 2008 link

Slovenian Statistical Office - Average Monthly Earnings - Feb 2008 - Provisional Apr 15, 2008, 13:08 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews According to provisional data, average monthly net earnings for February 2008 amounted to EUR 864.50, only EUR 0.07 more than for January 2008. Expressed in percent, this means that they remained the same. link

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