SEENEWS – news report of 28.08.2008

News report of 28.08.2008

* Albania *

Albania’s Q2 Construction Cost Index Adds 1.3% Y/Y - Table Aug 28, 2008, 14:45 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), August 28 (SeeNews) - Albania’s construction cost index rose by 1.3% on the year and was 0.8% higher on Q1 in the second quarter of 2008, National Statistics Institute (INSTAT) data showed on Thursday. link

UPDATE 1- Albania’s 7-mo Trade Gap Widens 16% Y/Y to 173 Bln Leks (1.4 Bln Euro) Aug 28, 2008, 14:30 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds details) link

Albania’s 7-mo Trade Gap Widens 16% Y/Y to 173 Bln Leks (1.4 Bln Euro) – Table Aug 28, 2008, 14:09 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), August 28 (SeeNews) - Albania’s trade balance for the first seven months of the year showed a deficit of 172.63 billion leks ($2.1 billion/1.4 billion euro), 16.03% higher on the year, the National Statistics Institute, INSTAT, said on Friday. link

ALBANIA’S 7-MO TRADE GAP WIDENS 16% Y/Y TO 173 BLN LEKS (1.4 BLN EURO) - STATS OFFICE Aug 28, 2008, 14:07 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Greece’s Cosmote Albanian Arm H1 Operating Income Rises 20.4% Y/Y to 46.1 Mln Euro - Table Aug 28, 2008, 13:27 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), August 28 (SeeNews) - Albanian Mobile Communications (AMC), the Albanian arm of Greek wireless operator Cosmote, posted a 20.36% annual rise in operating income for the first half of the year to 46.1 million euro ($64.7 million), Greek telecom group OTE, which fully owns Cosmote, said on Thursday. link

U.S. To Grant $16.4 Mln To Help Albania Fight Corruption – Media Aug 28, 2008, 11:04 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), August 28 (SeeNews) - The U.S. will grant Albania $16.4 million (11.2 million euro) to help the country fight corruption, Tirana-based TV Top Channel reported on Thursday. link

* Bosnia *

Bosnia’s Serb Republic Intends To Buy Two Small Aircraft Aug 28, 2008, 14:32 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), August 28 (SeeNews) – The government of Bosnia’s Serb Republic has said it will seek to buy two small passenger aircraft, each worth up to 12.25 million (8.28 million euro), for the region’s grounded air carrier Sky Srpska. link

Bosnia Schedule of Events – Aug 28-Nov 20 Aug 28, 2008, 09:37 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), August 28 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Bosnia and Herzegovina through November 20. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Bulgaria *

Sweden’s MTG Gets 318.1 Mln Euro Credit to Fund Acquisition of Bulgaria’s Nova TV Aug 28, 2008, 17:51 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) - Swedish media company Modern Times Group (MTG) said it has secured a 3.0 billion Swedish crowns (318.100 million euro) credit to finance the acquisition of Bulgaria’s Nova TV. link

Bulgarian Stocks End Mixed, Car Battery Maker MonBat Leads Rise of Blue-Chip Index Aug 28, 2008, 17:20 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) – Bulgarian stock indices ended mixed on Thursday with car battery maker MonBat gaining most amid the blue-chip companies, brokers said. link

Bulgaria’s Severcoop Gamza Holding Turns to H1 Cons Net Loss – Table Aug 28, 2008, 17:05 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian diversified holding Severcoop Gamza said on Thursday it turned to a consolidated net loss of 140,000 levs ($105,800/ 71,600 euro) in the first half of 2008 from a consolidated net profit of 3.223 million levs for the same period a year earlier, as sales fell. link

Croata, Romania, Bulgaria Among Most Vulnerable to External Financing Pressures in East Europe - Fitch Aug 28, 2008, 16:27 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) – Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania rank among the most vulnerable emerging economies in a Fitch index of relative vulnerability to external financing pressures of east European countries, the global rating agency said on Thursday. link

Bulgaria’s Holding Roads Posts 70.5% Drop in H1 After-tax Profit Y/Y Aug 28, 2008, 16:08 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian blue-chip construction company Holding Roads reported on Thursday a 70.5% drop in its group after-tax first-half profit to 1.42 million levs ($1.07 million/727,700 euro), as revenues rose by 28.1%. link

BULGARIA’S HOLDING ROADS CO. H1 AFTER-TAX PROFIT DROPS 70.5% Y/Y - REPORT Aug 28, 2008, 15:57 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Bulgaria’s Eurocom Says Hopes To Take Over Peer CableTEL by Year’s End, To Reassess Expansion Plans Aug 28, 2008, 13:59 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) – Bulgarian cable TV, Internet and voice company Eurocom Cable Management Bulgaria expects to get control over its main local competitor CableTEL by the end of the year, Eurocom’s chairman said on Thursday. link

UK-Listed Orchid Awards 85 Mln Euro Deal for Mall Construction to Bulgaria’s Comfort, Israel-based Firm Aug 28, 2008, 13:30 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) - UK-listed Orchid Developments on Thursday said it awarded a 85 million euro ($124.8 million) contract for the construction of a shopping mall in Bulgaria’s third-biggest city of Varna to a consortium of local Comfort and Israel-based AFCON Industries Group. link

FFBH - Bulgaria Morning Update - Aug 28, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 13:10 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews market WRAP-UP link

Industrial Holding Bulgaria to Place 11.2 Mln Euro 3-Yr Bond Issue Aug 28, 2008, 13:08 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) – Bulgaria’s financial watchdog on Thursday approved a 21.878 million levs ($16.5 million/11.2 million euro) convertible bond issue of local blue-chip company Industrial Holding Bulgaria. link

Greece’s Cosmote Macedonian Arm Turns To H1 Operating Loss Aug 28, 2008, 12:51 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), August 28 (SeeNews) – Macedonian wireless operator Cosmofon, a unit of Greece’s Cosmote, posted a 600,000 euro ($885,600) operating loss for the first half of 2008, compared to a 100,000 euro operating income for the same period last year, Greek telecom group OTE, which fully owns Cosmote, said on Thursday. link

Bulgaria’s Albena Invest Holding H1 Cons Net Profit Down 22% – Table Aug 28, 2008, 12:16 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian investment company Albena Invest Holding said on Thursday its first-half consolidated net profit fell by 22% to 1.112 million levs ($836,900/568,600 euro) as sales decreased by 23%. link

Greece’s Cosmote Bulgarian Unit Posts 16.9% Rise in H1 EBITDA Aug 28, 2008, 12:12 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) – The earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of Globul, the Bulgarian unit of Greek mobile phone operator Cosmote, rose 16.9% on the year to 85.8 million euro ($126.6 million) in the first half of 2008, Greek telecom group OTE, which fully owns Cosmote, said on Thursday. link

China’s Luoyang Glass Will Help Bulgarian Owner Revive Idled Glass Factory - Media Aug 28, 2008, 12:11 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) – China’s largest glass-maker Luoyang Glass has agreed to help Bulgarian company Via Properties revive an idled glass factory in Bulgaria under a project worth up to 120 million euro ($117.1 million), a Bulgarian news portal reported on Thursday. link

Elana - Bulgaria Daily Report - Aug 27, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 10:29 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews market Highlights link

Bulgaria, EU To Negotiate 30.7 Mln Euro Milk Subsidy on Sept 3 Aug 28, 2008, 10:28 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) – Bulgaria will try to convince the European Commission on September 3 that the 60 million levs ($45.3 milion/30.7 million euro) it has pledged to pay to local milk producers to keep them afloat are not state aid, the government said on Thursday. link

Bulbrokers - USA Stock Markets Daily Review - Aug 28, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 10:26 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Better Durable Goods Orders Supported The US Market US indices started the Wednesday session in a positive territory as favorable economic data fueled optimism among the investors. The July Durable goods orders rose by 1.3%, which was quite above the expected 0.1%. Same orders excluding transportation also advanced by 0.7%, at consensus of -0.5%. The reports appeared to be a good sign for the economy and contradicted the impression of a weak manufacturing sector. On the other hand, Crude oil inventories fell by 117 000 barrels in the previous week, while the estimates pointed an advance by 1.1 million barrels. The price of the oil headed higher due to the forming tropical storm in the Mexican Gulf, but that didn’t reflect the market because of the temporary character of this rise. The financial sector was among the main advancers for the day with its best performers the mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Shares of the two companies rose by 15.3% and 19.7% respecti vely, as a lack of government intervention eased shareholder concerns that their investment would be wiped out.The healthcare sector was under pressure after some bad results from the effect of the medicines of some companies. Shares of Amylin Pharmaceutical Inc sunk by whole 24.8% after news that four more users of its diabetes drug Byetta have died. In addition, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co announced that results from a phase three study of Apixaban, an anti-clotting medicine, did not meet expectations, which caused a drop of its stocks by 2.1%.In a light trading volumesession all the three indices closed in green. Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 0.8% to 11502.51, S&P500 advanced by 0.8% to 1281.66 and Nasdaq Composite was up by 0.9% to 2382.46.Trading volume on NYSE was 0.8 billion shares, with a ratio advancers/decliners 3 to 1, and volume on Nasdaq was 1.6 billion shares, with a ratio advancers/decliners 2 to 1. link

Bulbrokers - Daily FX Analysis - Aug 28, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 10:24 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews The euro gained versus the basket of currencies link

Bulgaria Schedule of Events - Aug 28-Nov 25 Aug 28, 2008, 09:14 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (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 Stock Exchange - Daily Bulletin, Selected Announcements - Aug 27, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 08:49 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Sparky Eltos AD-Lovech /SL9/ submitted to X3 News information about a change in the participation of Artio Global Management LLC-New York in the capital of Sparky Eltos AD.Please, refer to the entire notification available on link link

Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Aug 27, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 08:45 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Bulgarian Stock Еxchange has published its report on turnover and prices for August 27, 2008. link

Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Daily Bulletin, Selected Announcements - Aug 26, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 07:16 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Park REIT-Sofia /4PK/ submitted to BSE-Sofia the following information:The following changes concerning the company have been registered with the Commercial Register on 24 June 2008:- Changes in the Board of Directors:Obliteration of Martin Mihaylov Zaimov as a member of the Board and registration of Albena Vasileva Brashnarova as a new member of the Board- Change in the term of existence of the company:The General Meeting of Shareholders, held on 26 May 2008, has adopted a decision for prolongation of the term of existence of the company from 5 to 10 years as from its establishment, i.e. till 05 April 2015.- Amendments to the Statute of the company link

* Croatia *

Croatian Bourse Rebounds, Liquidity Rises, Buoyed by Petrokemija Aug 28, 2008, 18:44 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), August 28 (SeeNews) - The Croatian bourse rebounded on Thursday as liquidity slightly improved thanks to more active trading in mineral fertiliser producer Petrokemija, brokers said. link

Croata, Romania, Bulgaria Among Most Vulnerable to External Financing Pressures in East Europe - Fitch Aug 28, 2008, 16:27 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) – Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania rank among the most vulnerable emerging economies in a Fitch index of relative vulnerability to external financing pressures of east European countries, the global rating agency said on Thursday. link

Norway’s Verdispar To Build 45 Mln Euro Shopping Mall in Croatia Aug 28, 2008, 16:14 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), August 28 (SeeNews) – Norwegian investment group Verdispar said on Thursday it will build a 45 million euro ($66 million) shopping mall in the Croatian city of Varazdin with the aim to create a regional shopping destination for northern Croatia. link

UPDATE 1 - Croatia’s July Industrial Output Rises 1.8% Y/Y Aug 28, 2008, 15:29 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds analyst comments) link

Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Average Monthly Paid Off Earnings per Hour of Work in Legal Entities - June 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 15:27 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews In June 2008, there were 167 paid hours, which was by 4% less than in the previous month. The greatest number of paid hours was recorded in the activity Water transport (207) and the smallest one in the activity Education (157). link

Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Average Monthly Paid Off Net Earnings of Persons in Paid Employment - June 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 15:26 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews For the month of June 2008, the average monthly paid off net earning per person in paid employment in legal entities in the Republicof Croatia amounted to 5 167 kuna, which represented the nominal decrease of 0.1% and the real one of 0.8%, as compared to May 2008.The average monthly paid off net earning for June 2008 was nominally by 6.6% higher and really by 0.9% lower than in June 2007.In the period from January to June 2008, the average monthly paid off net earning amounted to 5 073 kuna, which represented the nominal increase of 6.2% and the real remained the same as compared to the same period of 2007. link

Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Congresses and Other Business Meetings - June 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 15:23 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews In June 2008, the number of business meetings held in the Republic of Croatia was 594. There were 343 (58%) meetings with overnight stays and 251 (42%) without them. The total number of days at business meetings was 1 352. Each meeting was held 2 days on the average. The number of participants at all meetings was 45 353; the number of domestic participants was 35 870 (79%), while the number of foreign ones was 9 483 (21%).According to professional organisers, the most meetings, 326 of them (55%), were organised by enterprises.In June 2008, the turnover of 35 876 317 kuna was generated from business meetings. Out of the total turnover, 32 423 260 kuna (90%) was generated from meetings with overnight stays and 3 453 057 kuna (10%) from meetings without overnight stays.busiIn the period from Januaryto June 2008, there were 3 358 business meetings held in the Republic of Croatia. Out of this number, there were 1 704 (51%) meetings with overnight stays and 1 654 (49%) without them . The total number of days at business meetings was 6 686. Business meetings were attended by 271 817 participants: 239 192 (88%) domestic and 32 625 (12%) foreign ones.In the period from January to June 2008, the total turnover generated from all business meetings held in the Republic of Croatia was 136 217 908 kuna. Out of this sum, 115 169 833 kuna (85%) was generated from meetings with overnight stays and 21 048 075 kuna (15%) from meetings without overnight stays. link

Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Persons in Paid Employment by Activity - July 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 15:20 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews In July 2008, the number of persons in paid employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia amounted to 1 245 139, out of which there were 566 492 women. As compared to June 2008, the number of persons in paid employment increased by 0.5% and the number of employed women by 0.6%.The total number of persons in employment increased in July 2008 by 0.6% and the number of employed women by 0.8%, as compared to the previous month.As compared to the previous month, the number of persons in employment in trade and crafts and free lances increased by 1.4%, out of which the number of women by 1.7%. The total number of employed insured persons – private farmers decreased by 0.8%, out of which the number of women by 0.7%. The number of unemployed persons decreased in July 2008 by 1.1%, out of which the number of women by 1.2%, as compared to June 2008. The total registered unemployment rate in July 2008 was 12.4%, and for women 16.2%. link

Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Average Monthly Gross Earnings of Persons in Paid Employment - June 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 15:06 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews For the month of June 2008, the average monthly gross earning per person in employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia amounted to 7 478 kuna, which represented the nominal decrease of 1.9% and the real one of 2.6%, as compared to May 2008.The average monthly gross earning for June 2008 was nominally by 5.8% higher and really by 1.6% lower than in June 2007.In the period from January to June 2008, the average monthly gross earning amounted to 7 435 kuna, which represented the nominal increase of 7.1% and the real one of 0.9%, as compared to the same period of 2007. link

Croatia’s July Industrial Output Rises 1.8% Y/Y Aug 28, 2008, 14:16 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), August 28 (SeeNews) - Croatia’s industrial output rose by 1.8% on the year in July after increasing by an annual 7.2% in June, the State Statistics Bureau said on Thursday. link

CROATIA’S JULY INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT UP 1.8% Y/Y AFTER RISING 7.2% Y/Y IN JUNE - STATS OFFICE Aug 28, 2008, 14:06 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Croatia June Net Salary Falls Real 0.8% M/M - Table Aug 28, 2008, 14:02 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), August 28 (SeeNews) - The average net monthly salary in Croatia was 5,167 kuna ($1,059/721 euro) in June, down by a real 0.8% from the previous month, the State Statistics Bureau said on Thursday. link

Croatia’s Dalekovod Confirms 380 Mln Kuna (53 Mln Euro) Deal with HAC Aug 28, 2008, 14:00 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), August 28 (SeeNews) – Croatian power transmission equipment maker Dalekovod said on Thursday it has won a deal worth some 380 million kuna ($78 million/53 million euro) from state-owned motorway management, construction and maintenance company Hrvatske Autoceste (HAC), confirming earlier media reports. Under the deal, Dalekovod will outfit the second tubes of the Mala Kapela and Sv.Rok tunnels on the Zagreb-Split-Dubrovnik motorway, the company said in a statement. It was the only bidder in the tender. The deadline to complete the construction works is June 2009. link

Croatia’s Jan-April Govt Budget Surplus at 3.2 Bln Kuna (446.4 Mln Euro) Aug 28, 2008, 11:20 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), August 28 (SeeNews) - Croatia’s central government ran a budget surplus of 3.2 billion kuna ($655.6 million/446.4 million euro) in the first four months of this year, Finance Ministry data showed. link

Erste Securities - Croatian Equity Daily - Aug 28, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 11:17 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Highlights: link

Croatia Schedule of Events - Aug 28-Oct 15 Aug 28, 2008, 09:43 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), August 28 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Croatia through October 15. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

FIMA Stock Monitor - Daily Report - Aug 27, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 08:53 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Daily comment: link

* Macedonia *

Croata, Romania, Bulgaria Among Most Vulnerable to External Financing Pressures in East Europe - Fitch Aug 28, 2008, 16:27 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) – Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania rank among the most vulnerable emerging economies in a Fitch index of relative vulnerability to external financing pressures of east European countries, the global rating agency said on Thursday. link

Bulgaria’s Eurocom Says Hopes To Take Over Peer CableTEL by Year’s End, To Reassess Expansion Plans Aug 28, 2008, 13:59 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) – Bulgarian cable TV, Internet and voice company Eurocom Cable Management Bulgaria expects to get control over its main local competitor CableTEL by the end of the year, Eurocom’s chairman said on Thursday. link

Macedonian Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Aug 27, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 08:42 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Macedonian Stock exchange has published its report on turnover and prices for August 27, 2008. link

* Moldova *

Moldova’s Foreign Debt Rises to $2.178 Bln at End-July - Table Aug 28, 2008, 17:07 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), August 28 (SeeNews) - Moldova’s foreign debt rose to $2.178 billion (1.5 billion euro) at the end of July from $2.101 billion a month earlier, the country’s central bank, BNM, said on Thursday. link

MOLDOVA’S END-JULY FOREIGN DEBT RISES TO $2.178 BLN FROM $2.101 BLN AT END-JUNE - C-BANK Aug 28, 2008, 16:47 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Moldova 7-mo Retail Sales Rise Real 13.2% Y/Y Aug 28, 2008, 16:34 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), August 28 (SeeNews) - Moldova’s retail sales rose by a real 13.2% on the year to 11.4 billion lei ($1.2 billion/798 million euro) in the first seven months of 2008, the country’s central bank BNM said on Thursday. link

Croata, Romania, Bulgaria Among Most Vulnerable to External Financing Pressures in East Europe - Fitch Aug 28, 2008, 16:27 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) – Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania rank among the most vulnerable emerging economies in a Fitch index of relative vulnerability to external financing pressures of east European countries, the global rating agency said on Thursday. link

Moldova Sells 45 Mln Lei (3.2 Mln Euro) in T-Bills, Yields Fall Aug 28, 2008, 09:41 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), August 28 (SeeNews) - The Moldovan central bank, BNM, has sold 45 million lei ($4.7 million/3.2 million euro) in three Treasury bill issues, as yields fell, it said on Thursday. link

Moldova Q2’08 Jobless Rate Falls to 3.0% from 4.2% Year-Ago Aug 28, 2008, 09:17 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), August 28 (SeeNews) - Moldova’s official unemployment rate was 3.0% in the second quarter of 2008, down from 4.2% a year earlier, the country’s statistics bureau said on Thursday. link

Moldova Schedule of Events - Aug 28-Oct 10 Aug 28, 2008, 09:09 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), August 28 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Moldova through October 10. New or amended entries are marked (*) link

* Montenegro *

Montenegro’s H1 GDP Rises by Real 8.0% Y/Y Aug 28, 2008, 16:57 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), August 28 (SeeNews) - Montenegro’s economy grew by a real 8.0% on the year in the first six months of 2008, the country’s central bank said on Thursday. link

MONTENEGRO’S H1 GDP RISES BY REAL 8.0% Y/Y - C-BANK Aug 28, 2008, 16:53 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

New Securities Exchange of Montenegro - Daily Report - Aug 27, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 08:41 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The New Securities exchange of Montenegro (NEX) has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for August 27, 2008. link

* Romania *

omania’s Wine Production Seen Rising 20% in 2008 – Industry Group Aug 28, 2008, 18:14 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 28 (SeeNews) - Wine production in Romania is seen rising by 20% this year to 6.3 million hectolitres, the country’s National Vineyard Growers and Wine Producers Association said on Thursday. link

Romanian Leu Ends Little Stronger vs Euro Backed by High O/N Rates Aug 28, 2008, 18:07 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 28 (SeeNews) - Romania’s leu on Thursday closed at 3.5410/5460 per euro, little stronger from 3.5440/5465 on Wednesday, backed by high overnight deposit rates, analysts said. link

Changes at Romania’s A&D Pharma - Top Drug Group’s CEO, CFO Step Down Aug 28, 2008, 17:24 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 28 (SeeNews) - Dutch-based A&D Pharma Holdings N.V., owner of Romanian drug group A&D Pharma, on Thursday said Dragos Dinu was stepping down as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Group. link

Greek Steel Firm Elastron Buys Land for 2.0 Mln Euro in Romania Aug 28, 2008, 17:15 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 28 (SeeNews) - Greek steel products processor and distributor Elastron said on Thursday it has acquired two pieces of land near the Romanian capital Bucharest for a total 2.0 million euro ($3.0 million), under its strategy for expansion in EU member Romania. link

Romanian Stock Market Bounces Back in Livelier Trading, Dominated by BRD Bank Aug 28, 2008, 16:49 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 28 (SeeNews) – The Romanian stock market bounced back on Thursday after a few days of falls in which it hit the lowest price levels so far this year, and a blue-chip bank dominated the livelier-than-usual trading, accounting for more than half of the turnover, brokers said. link

Raiffeisen Capital & Investment - Corporate Events - Sept 1 - 7, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 16:42 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Raiffeisen Capital & Investment has released its schedule of corporate events for the week September 1-7, 2008. link

Croata, Romania, Bulgaria Among Most Vulnerable to External Financing Pressures in East Europe - Fitch Aug 28, 2008, 16:27 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) – Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania rank among the most vulnerable emerging economies in a Fitch index of relative vulnerability to external financing pressures of east European countries, the global rating agency said on Thursday. link

France’s Carrefour To Invest Six Mln Euro in Rebranding Romanian Retailer Artima Aug 28, 2008, 16:23 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 28 (SeeNews) - French retail giant Carrefour on Thursday said it will spend some six million euro ($8.85 million) to rebrand Romanian supermarket chain Artima, which it bought last year for 55 million euro. link

Siemens in Over 6.5 Mln Euro Deals with Romanian Oil & Gas Group Petrom Aug 28, 2008, 15:54 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 28 (SeeNews) - Siemens on Thursday said it signed two deals worth over 6.5 million euro ($9.5 million) with Romanian oil and gas group Petrom to connect Petrom’s Brazi power plant to the country’s national grid. link

Greece’s OTE Romanian Unit Turns to 16.1 Mln Euro H1 Operating Loss Aug 28, 2008, 15:16 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 28 (SeeNews) - Romanian fixed-line operator Romtelecom has turned to an operating loss of 16.1 million euro ($23.7 million) in the first half of 2008, from a 25.8 million euro operating income a year earlier, under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), the company’s majority owner, Greek OTE, said on Thursday. link

Ieba Trust - Romanian Market Daily - Aug 27, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 12:26 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews BSE indices closed mixed on the back of the lowest daily market turnover since April 23 link

Greece’s Cosmote Romanian Arm Extends H1 Operating Loss to 39.3 Mln Euro Aug 28, 2008, 12:10 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 28 (SeeNews) - The Romanian arm of Greek cellphone operator Cosmote has extended its first-half operating loss to 39.3 million euro ($57.8 million), compared to 37.6 million euro a year earlier, Cosmote’s parent company OTE said on Thursday. link

Romania Sells 133.7 Mln Lei (37.7 Mln Euro) in 1-Yr T-Bills, Yields Rise Aug 28, 2008, 11:23 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 28 (SeeNews) - Romania on Wednesday sold 133.7 million lei ($55.4 million/37.7 million euro) worth of one-year T-bills, much below its 400 million lei target offer, as yields rose, the country’s central bank, BNR, said on Thursday. link

ANALYST VIEW - Pension Hike May Strain Romania’s 2009 Budget Aug 28, 2008, 11:17 CET | Analysis | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 28 (SeeNews) - The Romanian government’s decision to raise pensions by one-fifth just ahead of the November 30 vote may increase the country’s budget deficit next year above 3.0% of the gross domestic product (GDP), two out of three analysts polled by SeeNews said. link

Raiffeisen Capital & Investment - Investment Daily Romania - Aug 28, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 10:16 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Watchlist link

Manfred Wimmer Becomes Romania’s BCR Deputy Chair Aug 28, 2008, 09:35 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 27 (SeeNews) - After serving for several months as an interim CEO of Romania’s largest bank, Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR), Manfred Wimmer will become its deputy chairman following a shareholders’ decision, BCR said. link

Romania Schedule of Events - Aug 28-Nov 11 Aug 28, 2008, 09:08 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 28 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Romania through November 11. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Romania Business Sentiment Remains Positive in August Aug 28, 2008, 09:07 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), August 28 (SeeNews) - Romanian managers remain positive about the performance of the country’s economy in the three months through October, the country’s statistics board, INS, said on Thursday. link

Bucharest Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Regulated Market - Aug 27, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 08:49 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Bucharest Stock exchange has published its report on trading volumes and prices on the regulated market for August 27, 2008. link

Bucharest Stock Exchange - Daily Report - RASDAQ Market - Aug 27, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 08:43 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Bucharest Stock exchange has published its RASDAQ daily market report for August 27, 2008. link

* Serbia *

Croata, Romania, Bulgaria Among Most Vulnerable to External Financing Pressures in East Europe - Fitch Aug 28, 2008, 16:27 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), August 28 (SeeNews) – Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania rank among the most vulnerable emerging economies in a Fitch index of relative vulnerability to external financing pressures of east European countries, the global rating agency said on Thursday. link

Serbian Stocks Drop Further in Falling Turnover Aug 28, 2008, 15:45 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), August 28 (SeeNews) - Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) shares lost further ground on Thursday in lower volumes, brokers said. link

National Bank of Serbia - Activity of Cards Issued in Serbia - Q2 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 15:32 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) has published its quarterly report on the activity of cards issued in the Republic of Serbia for the second quarter of 2008 link

National Bank of Serbia - Average Number and Amount of Transactions with Cards Issued in Serbia in Domestic Acceptance Network - Q2 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 15:31 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) has released its quarterly report on the average number and amount of transactions with cards issued in Serbia in the domestic acceptance network for the second quarter of 2008. link

National Bank of Serbia - Number and Value of Transactions in Serbia with Cards Issued by Foreign Banks - Q2 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 15:25 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) has issued its quarterly report on the number and value of transactions in Serbia with cards issued by foreign banks for the second quarter of 2008. link

National Bank of Serbia - Number, Activity of Payment Cards Issued in Republic of Serbia - Q2 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 15:22 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) has released its quarterly report on the number and activity of payment cards issued in the Republic of Serbia for the second quarter of 2008. link

Serbia’s MK Group To Buy out Minorities of Local Food Producer Granexport Aug 28, 2008, 15:15 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), August 28 (SeeNews) – MK Group, leading producer and exporter of crop farming cultures in Serbia, said on Thursday it intends to buy out minorities of local food firm Granexport, in which it already owns 95.9%. link

National Bank of Serbia - Number, Value of Transactions at ATMs and POS Terminals with Cards Issued in Serbia - Q2 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 15:06 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) has published its quarterly report on the number and value of transactions at ATMs and POS terminals with cards issued in the country for the second quarter of 2008. link

Serbian Blue Chip Energoprojekt H1 Net Profit Quadruples to 474 Mln Dinars (6.2 Mln Euro) Aug 28, 2008, 14:56 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), August 28 (SeeNews) - Serbian blue-chip engineering holding company Energoprojekt said on Thursday its net profit nearly quadrupled to 474 million dinars ($9.1 million/6.2 million euro) in the first half of the year. link

SERBIAN BLUE CHIP ENERGOPROJEKT’S H1 NET PROFIT ALMOST QUADRUPLES Y/Y TO 474 MLN DINARS (6.2 MLN EURO) Aug 28, 2008, 14:41 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Serbia Greenlights First Phase of 971 Mln Dinars (12.7 Mln Euro) Gas Pipeline Project Aug 28, 2008, 14:12 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), August 28 (SeeNews) – Serbia has approved the launch of the first stage of a 971.2 million dinars ($18.7 million/12.7 million euro) gas pipeline project in its northern province of Vojvodina, Vojvodina’s Provincial Secretariat for Architecture, Urbanism and Engineering said on Thursday. link

Austria’s Alpine-Porr Wants Out of Serbian Deal for Key Motorway Construction Aug 28, 2008, 12:42 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), August 28 (SeeNews) – Austrian consortium Alpine-Porr on Wednesday gave up its concession deal for the construction of a key motorway in Serbia, opening the way for the government in Belgrade to build the facility itself, Serbian President Boris Tadic’s office said. link

Serbia To Sell Conveyor Belt Producer Kolubara-Univerzal to Greek Imas S.A. Aug 28, 2008, 12:34 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), August 28 (SeeNews) – Serbia has said it will sell 70% of its rubber conveyor belt producer Kolubara-Univerzal for an undisclosed sum to Greek rubber products manufacturer and distributor Imas S.A which was the sole bidder for the asset. link

Vojvodjanska Banka - Daily Vobnews - Aug 28, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 10:44 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Vojvodjanska banka released its Daily Vobnews report for August 28, 2008 containing the following charts and tables: link

Sinteza Investment Group - Daily Market Wrap Up - Aug 27, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 10:38 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Sinteza Investment Group has released its daily trading report for August 27, 2008. The report contains an overview of the Serbian Financial market. link

Serbia Schedule of Events - Aug 28-Dec 30 Aug 28, 2008, 09:39 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), August 28 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Serbia through December 30. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Belgrade Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Aug 27, 2008 Aug 28, 2008, 08:51 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Belgrade Stock exchange has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for August 27, 2008 link

* Slovenia *

Slovenian Stock Indices Edge Up in Holiday Mood Aug 28, 2008, 18:22 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), August 28 (SeeNews) - Slovenian stock indices edged up in holiday mood on Thursday and brokers said they expect low turnovers to continue on the bourse next week. link

Slovenian Logistics Co Intereuropa H1 Group Net Profit Falls to 6.8 Mln Euro, Below Target Aug 28, 2008, 17:48 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), August 28 (SeeNews) - Slovenian logistics company Intereuropa on Thursday reported a group net profit of 6.8 million euro ($10 million) for the first half of 2008, much lower than the group net profit it posted a year ago and below target due to higher financial expenses. link

Slovenian Statistical Office - Population by Settlements - Detailed Data - 2007 Aug 28, 2008, 15:01 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews At the end of 2007 in Ljubljana lived 12.8% of the total Slovenian population; in 2,872 Slovenian settlements each with less than 100 people there lived only 7% of the total Slovenian population. link

Slovenian Brewer Pivovarna Lasko’s H1 Prelim Group Net Profit Slumps to 8.92 Mln Euro Aug 28, 2008, 14:59 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), August 28 (SeeNews) - Slovenian brewer Pivovarna Lasko on Thursday reported a preliminary group net profit of 8.92 million euro ($13 million) for the first half of 2008, down from 22.15 million euro a year ago, when it booked financial gains. link

SLOVENIAN BLUE-CHIP BREWER PIVOVARNA LASKO H1 PRELIM GROUP NET PROFIT FALLS TO 8.92 MLN EURO FROM 22.15 MLN EURO YR-AGO Aug 28, 2008, 14:40 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Useful advice:

Seenews