Seenews: news report of 02.03.2009

Countries:

* Albania *

Albanian Insurers’ Jan Gross Premium Income Rises 40% Y/Y to 670 Mln Leks (5.1 Mln Euro) Mar 02, 2009, 14:41 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), March 2 (SeeNews) - The gross premium income of Albanian insurers in January rose 40% from a year earlier to 670.2 million leks ($6.5 million/5.1 million euro), official statistics indicated on Monday. link

Albanian Banks’ End-2008 Loan Portfolio Rises 35% Y/Y to 389 Bln Leks (3.0 Bln Euro) – Table Mar 02, 2009, 12:32 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), March 2 (SeeNews) - The loan portfolio of commercial banks in Albania totalled 388.577 billion leks ($3.76 billion/2.99 billion euro) at the end of 2008, up by 0.5% from a month earlier and 35.1% higher on the year, the country’s central bank statistics indicated on Monday. link

Albania’s End-2008 M3 Money Supply Rises 7.1% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 11:27 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), March 2 (SeeNews) - Albania’s M3 broad money supply totalled 815.1 billion leks ($7.9 billion/6.2 billion euro) at the end of 2008, up by 7.07% on the year, central bank statistics indicated on Monday. link

* Bosnia *

Serbia’s Delta Maxi Plans to Invest 200 Mln Euro in Bosnia until End-2013 Mar 02, 2009, 17:51 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 2 (SeeNews) – Serbian retailer Delta Maxi plans to invest some 200 million euro ($252 million) in 50 new outlets across Bosnia and Herzegovina until the end of 2013, a company official said on Monday. link

Bosnian Serb Lottery 2008 Net Profit Up 59% Mar 02, 2009, 16:19 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), March 2 (SeeNews) – Bosnia’s Serb Republic lottery, Lutrija RS, said on Monday its net profit rose 59% to 897,000 marka ($577,300/458,600 euro) last year. link

Bosnian Serb Railways Company Loss Widens by 5.7% in 2008 - Table Mar 02, 2009, 15:38 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), March 2 (SeeNews) - Bosnian Serb railway company Zeljeznice Republike Srpske’s loss widened to 14.57 million marka ($9.4 million/7.4 million euro) in 2008 from 13.79 million marka a year earlier, figures showed on Monday. link

Bosnian Food Processor Vitaminka 2008 Net Profit Falls 60% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 15:12 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), March 2 (SeeNews) - Swiss-controlled Bosnian food processing company Vitaminka on Monday reported a 60% fall in its 2008 net profit to some 32,577 marka ($21,000/16,700 euro), figures showed on Monday. link

* Bulgaria *

Bulbrokers - Stock Market Daily Review - Feb 27, 2009 Mar 02, 2009, 14:44 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Range trading on the Wall Street link

Bulbrokers - Daily FX Analysis - Feb 27, 2009 Mar 02, 2009, 14:44 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews The dollar continued to advance versus the yen link

Bulbrokers - Stock Market Daily Review - Feb 26, 2009 Mar 02, 2009, 14:43 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Mixed trading on Wall Street link

Bulbrokers - Daily FX Analysis - Feb 26, 2009 Mar 02, 2009, 14:43 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews The dollar advanced against the major currencies link

* Croatia *

Croatian Share Indices Fall, Turnover Slightly Up Mar 02, 2009, 17:00 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 2 (SeeNews) - The share indices of the Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) fell on Monday, as turnover slightly rose, bourse data showed. link

Austrian Insurer UNIQA’s Croatian Unit 2008 Premium Income Rises 32.4% Mar 02, 2009, 15:31 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 2 (SeeNews) - The Croatian unit of Austrian insurer UNIQA said on Monday its 2008 preliminary premium income rose 32.4% to 183.6 million kuna ($31 million/25 million euro). link

Croatia C-Bank End-Jan FX Reserves Fall to 8.675 Bln Euro - Table Mar 02, 2009, 14:30 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 2 (SeeNews) - The Croatian central bank’s foreign exchange reserves fell to 8.675 billion euro ($11 billion) at the end of January from 9.173 billion euro a year earlier, the central bank said late on Friday in a statement posted on its website. link

* Macedonia *

Macedonia’s February Inflation Slows to 0.7% Y/Y - Table Mar 02, 2009, 17:12 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s inflation in February slowed to 0.7% year-on-year from an annual 1.7% in January, data from the country’s State Statistics Office showed on Monday. link

MACEDONIA’S FEB CPI +0.7% Y/Y, -0.2% M/M VS +1.7% Y/Y, -0.6% M/M IN JANUARY - STATS OFFICE Mar 02, 2009, 17:09 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Macedonia’s EMO 2008 Prelim Cons Net Loss Narrows 17% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 16:53 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s leading electronic equipment producer EMO said on Monday its 2008 preliminary consolidated net loss totalled 108.03 million denars ($2.22 million/1.76 million euro), compared to 129.75 million denars loss a year earlier. link

Macedonia’s Stopanska Banka-Bitola 2008 Prelim Pre-Tax Profit Falls 28% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 16:23 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) – Macedonian blue-chip commercial bank Stopanska Banka AD Bitola said on Monday its 2008 preliminary pre-tax profit fell by 28% to 184.69 million denars ($3.8 million/3.01 million euro). link

MACEDONIA’S STOPANSKA BANKA-BITOLA SAYS 2008 PRELIM PRE-TAX PROFIT FALLS 28% TO 184.69 MLN DENARS (3.01 MLN EURO) Mar 02, 2009, 16:16 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Macedonian Construction Company Granit 2008 Prelim Pre-Tax Profit Rises 11% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 16:15 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Macedonian construction company Granit said on Monday its preliminary pre-tax profit in 2008 rose by 11% to 431.37 million denars ($8.86 million/7.04 million euro). link

MACEDONIAN CONSTRUCTION FIRM GRANIT SAYS 2008 PRELIM PRE-TAX PROFIT RISES 11% TO 431.37 MLN DENARS (7.04 MLN EURO) Mar 02, 2009, 16:12 CET | Alert | SeeNews

link

Macedonia’s Ohridska Banka 2008 Net Profit Falls 72% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 15:54 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Macedonian commercial bank Ohridska Banka AD Ohrid said on Monday its 2008 net profit fell by 72% from a year earlier to 26.582 million denars ($546,400/433,800 euro). link

Macedonia’s Zito Vardar 2008 Prelim Cons Net Loss Narrows 29% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 15:46 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Macedonian holding company Zito Vardar said its 2008 preliminary consolidated net loss narrowed to 15.936 million denars ($327,600/260,100 euro), from 22.500 million denars a year earlier. link

Macedonian Wool Mill Teteks 2008 Prelim Net Profit Down 72.5% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 15:42 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s largest wool mill Teteks reported a preliminary net profit of 1.35 million denars ($27,700/22,000 euro) for 2008, 72.5% down from a year earlier. link

MACEDONIA’S OHRIDSKA BANKA SAYS 2008 NET PROFIT FALLS 72% TO 26.582 MLN DENARS (434,000 EURO) Mar 02, 2009, 15:32 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Macedonian Steel Mill Makstil 2008 Net Profit Falls by 25% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 14:28 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s largest steel mill Makstil AD said on Monday its 2008 preliminary net profit fell by 25% from a year earlier to 124.42 million denars ($2.56 million /2.03 million euro), despite a rise in sales revenue. link

Macedonian Farming Company ZK Pelagonija Bitola 2008 Prelim Net Profit Rises 51.5% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 14:23 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Macedonian farming company ZK Pelagonija Bitola AD said on Monday its 2008 preliminary net profit rose by 51.5% from a year earlier to 222.7 million denars ($4.58 million/3.63 million euro). link

MACEDONIAN STEEL MILL MAKSTIL SAYS 2008 NET PROFIT FALLS 25% TO 124.42 MLN DENARS (2.03 MLN EURO) Mar 02, 2009, 14:20 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Macedonian Ruling Party’s Candidate Leads Ahead of Presidential Election - Poll Mar 02, 2009, 14:20 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - The presidential candidate of Macedonia’s governing VMRO-DPMNE party, Gjorgje Ivanov, enjoys highest voter approval ahead of the March 22 election, a poll indicated on Sunday. link

MACEDONIA’S ZK PELAGONIJA BITOLA SAYS 2008 PRELIM NET PROFIT UP 51.5% TO 222.7 MLN DENARS (3.63 MLN EURO) Mar 02, 2009, 13:52 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Macedonian Government Plans Budget Rebalance in May or June Mar 02, 2009, 13:08 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - The Macedonian government said on Sunday it plans to revise in May or June the state budget for 2009. link

Macedonia To Invest 8.0 Bln Euro in Strategic Infrastructure Projects in 2009-2016 Mar 02, 2009, 12:58 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) – The Macedonian government on Sunday unveiled an eight billion euro ($10.07 billion) investment plan for strategic infrastructure projects in the 2009-2016 period. link

Macedonian Ferroalloys Plant Silmak Halts Production - Media Mar 02, 2009, 12:17 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) – Macedonian ferroalloys plant Silmak has halted production due to a fall in global ferroalloy prices and rising costs, Skopje-based media reported on Monday. link

Macedonia’s Makosped 2008 Prelim Net Profit Edges Up 0.3% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 11:59 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Macedonian transport, insurance and retail holding company Makosped AD said on Friday its preliminary net profit edged up 0.3% in 2008 to 140.7 million denars ($2.9 million/2.3 million euro). link

Macedonian Hotel Operator International Hotels 2008 Prelim Net Profit Falls 39% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 11:57 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Macedonian hotel operator International Hotels AD Skopje said on Friday it had a preliminary net profit of 5.19 million denars ($106,700/84,700 euro) in 2008, 39% down from a year earlier. link

Macedonia’s RZ Uslugi 2008 Prelim Cons Net Profit Falls 31% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 11:52 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Macedonian services provider RZ Uslugi Skopje AD said on Friday its 2008 preliminary consolidated net profit fell by 31% on the year to 1.4 million denars ($29,400/23,400 euro). link

Macedonia’s Stater Banka Turns to Prelim Pre-Tax Loss of 10.72 Mln Denars (174,940 Euro) in 2008- Table Mar 02, 2009, 11:48 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s Stater Banka AD Kumanovo said on Friday it turned to apreliminary pre-tax loss of 10.72 million denars ($220,350/174,940 euro) in 2008, after reporting a pre-tax profit of 10.54 million denars a year earlier. link

Macedonian Food Co Vitaminka 2008 Prelim Net Profit Falls 2.2% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 11:34 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Macedonian food company Vitaminka AD said on Monday its 2008 preliminary net profit fell 2.2% to 36.776 million denars ($755,900/600,150 euro). link

Macedonian Construction Firm Beton 2008 Prelim Net Profit Falls 25.5% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 11:24 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Beton AD Skopje, one of Macedonia’s leading construction companies, on Monday reported a 25.5% annual fall in its 2008 preliminary net profit to 20.05 million denars ($412,100/327,200 euro). Following are figures from Beton’s income statement sent to the Macedonian Stock Exchange (MSE) (in millions of denars): link

MACEDONIAN CONSTRUCTION FIRM BETON SAYS PRELIM 2008 NET PROFIT FALLS 25.5% Y/Y TO 20.05 MLN DENARS (327,200 EURO) Mar 02, 2009, 11:21 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

* Moldova *

Moldova Schedule of Events - March 2 - April 5 Mar 02, 2009, 11:20 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 2 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Moldova through April 5. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Romania *

Romanian Plastics Maker Romcarbon Expects To Turn to Profit in 2009 Mar 02, 2009, 17:42 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 2 (SeeNews) - Romanian plastics manufacturer Romcarbon said on Monday it expects to turn to a net profit of 8.66 million lei ($2.5 million/2.0 million euro) in 2009 from a preliminary loss of 7.28 million lei for last year. link

Romanian Leu Eases Further vs Euro in Line with Regional Peers Mar 02, 2009, 17:37 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 2 (SeeNews) - The Romanian leu weakened further versus the euro on Monday on increasing risk aversion toward emerging currencies, dealers said. link

Piraeus Bank Romanian Unit’s 2008 Gross Profit Rises 96% to 43 Mln Euro Mar 02, 2009, 17:32 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 2 (SeeNews) - The Romanian unit of Greece’s Piraeus Bank said on Monday its gross profit rose 96% last year, reaching 43 million euro ($54 million). link

Romanian Stocks End Mixed Despite Sharp Falls on Global Markets Mar 02, 2009, 17:25 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 2 (SeeNews) - Romanian stocks closed Monday’s trading session mixed in low volumes despite steep losses on global markets, brokers said. link

Romania’s Refinery Steaua Romana To Be Shut Down – Media Mar 02, 2009, 15:25 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 2 (SeeNews) - Romanian refinery Steaua Romana will be shut down and all of its 409 workers laid off, Bucharest-based news agency Mediafax reported. link

Romania Sells 2.52 Bln Lei (585 Mln Euro) in 6-Mo T-bills, Yields Rise Mar 02, 2009, 14:32 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 2 (SeeNews) - Romania on Monday sold 2.52 billion lei ($737 million/585 million euro) in six-month Treasury bills as yields rose, the country’s central bank, BNR, said. link

Romanian C-bank FX Reserves Fall to 25.917 Bln Euro at End-Feb Mar 02, 2009, 13:28 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 2 (SeeNews) - The foreign exchange reserves held by Romania’s central bank, excluding gold, totalled 25.917 billion euro ($32.7 billion) at the end of February, down by a net 92 million euro from a month earlier, the central bank said on Monday. link

Romania Schedule of Events - March 2 - Oct 19 Mar 02, 2009, 11:14 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 2 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Romania through October 19. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Serbia *

Serbia’s Delta Generali Osiguranje Captures Over 50% of Travel Health Insurance Market in ’08 Mar 02, 2009, 18:27 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 2 (SeeNews) – Serbian insurer Delta Generali Osiguranje captured over 50% of the market for travel health insurance in the Balkan country last year, the company said, citing preliminary 2008 data. link

Serbia’s Delta Maxi Plans to Invest 200 Mln Euro in Bosnia until End-2013 Mar 02, 2009, 17:51 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 2 (SeeNews) – Serbian retailer Delta Maxi plans to invest some 200 million euro ($252 million) in 50 new outlets across Bosnia and Herzegovina until the end of 2013, a company official said on Monday. link

Serbian Blue Chips Touch Briefly New Historic Low Mar 02, 2009, 17:09 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 2 (SeeNews) - The blue-chip index of the Belgrade Stock Exchange slipped shortly to a new all-time low on Monday after touching the bottom in intraday trading several times last week, a broker said. link

Serbian Automobile Producer FAP Says Attracts Buy Offer From Ukrainian Bus Plant LAZ Only - Media Mar 02, 2009, 16:51 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 2 (SeeNews) – Serbian automobile producer Korporacija Fabrika Automobila Priboj (FAP) said Ukrainian bus plant Lvivsky Avtobusni Zavody (LAZ) is the only bidder in a tender to buy 86.5% of FAP, Serbian broadcaster B92 reported on Monday, link

Tender for 70% Stake in Serbian Holding Company Rad Fails Mar 02, 2009, 16:29 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 2 (SeeNews) – A tender for 70% of Serbian holding company Rad failed to attract investors’ interest, the government’s asset-selling agency said. link

Erste’s Serbian Unit 2008 Pre-Tax Profit Rises to 332.9 Mln Dinars (3.5 Mln Euro) Mar 02, 2009, 16:11 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 2 (SeeNews) – Austrian banking group Erste said on Monday the pre-tax profit of its Serbian unit in 2008 nearly doubled to 332.9 million dinars (3.5 million euro/$4.5 million) from 170.9 million dinars a year earlier. link

Serbia’s C-bank Keeps Key Repo Rate Flat at 16.5% Mar 02, 2009, 14:18 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Serbia’s central bank, NBS, said on Monday it decided to keep its key repo rate unchanged at 16.5%. link

SERBIAN C-BANK SAYS KEEPS KEY REPO RATE UNCHANGED AT 16.5% Mar 02, 2009, 13:21 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Kosovo Ends 2008 with 2.3 Mln Euro Budget Deficit Vs 233.7 Mln Euro Surplus in 2007 Mar 02, 2009, 13:15 CET | Story | SeeNews PRISTINA, March 2 (SeeNews) - Kosovo had a consolidated budget deficit of 2.3 million euro ($2.89 million) in 2008, compared to a surplus of 233.7 million euro a year earlier, data of the finance ministry showed on Monday. link

Kosovo 2008 Jobless Numbers Rise 0.4% - Table Mar 02, 2009, 13:04 CET | Story | SeeNews PRISTINA, March 2 (SeeNews) - There were 335,942 people unemployed in Kosovo at the end of 2008, up 0.4% from a year earlier, Kosovo’s central bank said on Monday. link

Kosovo Insurers 2008 Gross Premium Income Rises 11% to 56 Mln Euro Mar 02, 2009, 13:03 CET | Story | SeeNews PRISTINA, March 2 (SeeNews) - Insurance companies in Kosovo reported 56.4 million euro ($71.09 million) in combined gross premium income in 2008, up by 11% from a year earlier, Kosovo’s Central Bank said on Monday. link

Kosovo’s C-Bank End-2008 Assets Rise 5% Y/Y to 1.1 Bln Euro - Table Mar 02, 2009, 12:38 CET | Story | SeeNews PRISTINA, March 2 (SeeNews) - The total assets of Kosovo’s Central Bank rose by 5.0% year-on-year to 1.11 billion euro ($1.39 billion) at the end of 2008, the bank said on Monday. link

Kosovo Banks’ End-2008 Loan Portfolio Rises 33% Y/Y to 1.2 Bln Euro - Table Mar 02, 2009, 12:19 CET | Story | SeeNews PRISTINA, March 2 (SeeNews) - The loan portfolio of commercial banks in Kosovo reached 1.18 billion euro ($1.5 billion) at the end of 2008, up by 33% from a year earlier, Kosovo’s Central Bank said on Monday. link

UPDATE 1 - Kosovo’s Jan CPI Flat M/M, Down 0.5% Y/Y Mar 02, 2009, 11:55 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds details) link

FEATURE - Brighter Days in Pipeline for Serbia’s Troubled Mine and Copper Smelter RTB Bor Mar 02, 2009, 11:38 CET | Interview | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 2 (SeeNews) – It would sound ironic to say that Serbia’s troubled mine and copper smelter RTB Bor is in a pit. link

Kosovo’s Jan CPI Flat M/M, Down 0.5% Y/Y - Table Mar 02, 2009, 11:32 CET | Story | SeeNews PRISTINA, March 2 (SeeNews) - The consumer price index (CPI) of Kosovo was flat on the month and down by 0.5% on the year in January, Kosovo’s statistics office said on Monday. link

Serbia Schedule of Events – March 2 - May 1 Mar 02, 2009, 11:17 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Serbia through May 1. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Slovenia *

Slovenian Share Indices Drop, Bourse Turnover Rises Mar 02, 2009, 18:11 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), March 2 (SeeNews) - Slovenian stock indices opened the week lower in slightly bigger turnover, data from the Ljubljana Stock Exchange (LJSE) showed. link

Useful advice:

Seenews