Seenews: news report of 02.10.2008

Countries:

* Albania *

Albanian Insurers’ Jan-Aug Gross Premium Income Rises 13.44% to 4.6 Bln Leks (37 Mln Euro) Oct 02, 2008, 12:15 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), October 2 (SeeNews) - The gross premium income of Albanian insurers rose by 13.44% on the year to 4.57 billion leks ($52 million/37 million euro) through August, official statistics indicated on Thursday. link

UPDATE 1 - Albania’s 8-mo Trade Gap Widens 17% Y/Y to 200 Bln Leks (1.6 Bln Euro) Oct 02, 2008, 10:44 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds details) link

Albania’s 8-mo Trade Gap Widens 17% Y/Y to 200 Bln Leks (1.6 Bln Euro) - Table Oct 02, 2008, 10:17 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), October 2 (SeeNews) - Albania’s trade balance for the first eight months of the year showed a deficit of 200.44 billion leks ($2.3 billion/1.6 billion euro), 16.94% higher on the year, the National Statistics Institute, INSTAT, said. link

ALBANIA’S 8-MO TRADE GAP WIDENS 17% Y/Y TO 200 BLN LEKS (1.6 BLN EURO) - STATS OFFICE Oct 02, 2008, 10:13 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Albania To Auction 6.4 Bln Leks (52 Mln Euro) in 12-Mo T-bills on Tuesday Oct 02, 2008, 10:03 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), October 2 (SeeNews) - Albania’s central bank will auction 6.4 billion leks ($73.1 million/52 million euro) in 12-month Treasury bills on October 7, the bank said on Thursday. link

Albania Schedule of Events - Oct 2 - Nov 29 Oct 02, 2008, 09:44 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), October 2 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Albania through November 29. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Albania Says Czech CEZ Pledges To Invest 425 Mln Euro in Power Distributor OSSH Oct 01, 2008, 18:50 CET | Story | SeeNews TIRANA (Albania), October 1 (SeeNews) - Czech power utility group CEZ has pledged to invest 425 million euro in Albania’s power distributor OSSH, including the 102 million euro it has offered to pay for a 76% stake in the company, the Albanian energy ministry said on Wednesday. link

* Bosnia *

Austrian Post Acquires Bosnian Parcel Delivery Co 24VIP Oct 02, 2008, 14:35 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), October 2 (SeeNews) – Austrian Post said on Thursday it has acquired 100% of Bosnian parcel delivery firm 24VIP for an undisclosed sum. link

Austria’s BRIGO Invest Opens 5.1 Mln Euro Briquette Factory in Bosnia Oct 02, 2008, 11:43 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), October 2 (SeeNews) – Austrian company BRIGO Invest will open on Thursday a 10 million marka ($7.4 million/5.1 million euro) briquette factory in the northern Bosnian town of Banovici, the government of Bosnia’s Muslim-Croat Federation said. link

Businesswomen in Bosnia Grow in Numbers Despite Challenges – IFC Report Oct 02, 2008, 11:26 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), October 2 (SeeNews) – The number of women entrepreneurs in Bosnia is growing despite challenges involving licensing, taxation, labour and access to finance, the International Financial Corporation (IFC) said on Thursday. link

Bosnia Schedule of Events – Oct 2 - Nov 20 Oct 02, 2008, 09:53 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), October 2 (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 *

European Commission Endorses Proposed Acquisition of Greece’s OTE by Deutsche Telekom Oct 02, 2008, 18:30 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - The European Commission on Thursday said it has approved the proposed acquisition of the Greek telecommuniations operator OTE by its German peer Deutsche Telekom. link

Renault Trucks To Invest Some 15 Mln Euro in SEE Expansion in 2009 Oct 02, 2008, 17:59 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), October 2 (SeeNews) - Renault Trucks Commercial Europe plans to open next year three sale and service centres worth around 5.0 million euro ($7.0 million) each in Southeast Europe - in Bulgaria, Macedonia and Serbia, a company official said on Thursday. link

INTERVIEW – U.S. Dell To Maintain 2008 Its Sale Target for Romania, Bulgaria if Global Crisis Spares Them Oct 02, 2008, 17:48 CET | Interview | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), October 2 (SeeNews) - U.S. computer group Dell will stick to its targets for the sales of desktops, notebooks and servers in Romania and Bulgaria in 2008, if the global financial crisis spares the two Black Sea neighbours, a senior company executive said on Thursday. link

Karoll - Bulgarian Daily Newsletter - Oct 2, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 17:05 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Headlines link

Bulgaria’s Balkanstroy Unit Eyes up to 25% Market Share on Constuction Board, Beam Market, 20% on Frames Market by Mid-’09 Oct 02, 2008, 16:41 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), October 2 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria’s Technowood, owned by construction and investment company Balkanstroy, said on Thursday it would aim to grab a 20-25% market share on the construction board and beam market and a 20% share on the door and window frame market by mid-2009 after the recent launch of a new production unit. link

Five Foreign, Three Local Companies Bid for 34 Km Section of Bulgaria’s Key Trakia Motorway Oct 02, 2008, 16:22 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), October 2 (SeeNews) - Five foreign and three local companies have placed bids to build a 34 kilometre section of Bulgaria’s key Trakia motorway, a government agency said on Thursday. link

Bulgarian Chimimport’s Oil and Gas Prospecting Unit To Invest over 11 Mln Euro Under New Exploration Permit Oct 02, 2008, 16:01 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), October 2 (SeeNews) – The oil and gas prospecting unit of Bulgarian industrial conglomerate Chimimport will invest more than 11 million euro ($15.5 million) in oil and gas exploration under a new on-shore permit until 2011, the government said on Thursday. link

Bulgaria’s Largest Тhermal Power Plant Maritsa East 2 Beats 9-mo Output Target by 9.0% Oct 02, 2008, 15:58 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), October 2 (SeeNews) – Bulgaria’s largest coal-fired thermal power plant, TPP Maritsa East 2, on Thursday said it generated 5.716 million megatt hours of electricity in the first nine months of 2008, 9.0% more than initially planned. link

Bulgarian Stocks Lose Ground in Sell-Offs Oct 02, 2008, 15:48 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), October 2 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian share indices ended lower on Thursday following sell-offs by mutual funds, brokers said. link

Fitch Affirms Ratings of Italy’s UniCredit Units in Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania Oct 02, 2008, 14:58 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - International rating agency Fitch on Thursday affirmed the ratings of Italian banking group UniCredit’s subsidiaries in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania. link

Bulgaria’s Energy Solutions Needs Less than 1.0 Mln Euro To Double Capacity of Solar Panel Plant, Awaits Market To Mature Oct 02, 2008, 13:56 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), October 2 (SeeNews) – Energy Solutions, the sole operating photovoltaic module manufacturer in Bulgaria, needs less than 1.0 million euro ($1.4 million) to double its installed capacity above 30 megawatts (MW) of panels, but awaits the market to mature, the company director Eleftherios Chatzakis said on Thursday. link

Bulgarian City of Shumen To Set Up 250 Ha Industrial Zone Oct 02, 2008, 13:24 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), October 2 (SeeNews) – Bulgaria’s northeastern municipality of Shumen plans to establish a joint venture with local private firm Niki BT to develop a 250 hectare industrial zone in the city, a municipal official said on Thursday. link

Bulgaria’s Anti-Trust Body OKs Sale of Cable TV/Internet Cos CableTEL, Vicom Bulgaria to Dutch FN Cable Oct 02, 2008, 12:24 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), October 2 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria’s anti-trust regulator said on Thursday it has approved the acquisition of Bulgarian providers of telecom, cable TV and Internet services CableTEL and Vicom Bulgaria by Dutch-based FN Cable Cooperatief. link

FFBH - Bulgaria Morning Update - Oct 2, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 11:57 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews MARKET WRAP-UP link

Elana - Bulgaria Daily Report - Oct 1, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 11:32 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Market Highlights link

Karoll - Bulgarian Daily Newsletter - Oct 1, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 10:57 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Headlines link

Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Daily Bulletin, Selected Announcements - Oct 1, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 09:25 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Monbat AD-Sofia /5MB/ submitted to X3 News the following information:"With the present we would like to inform you that within the period 15.09.2008 - 30.09.2008 Monbat Plc has bought out own shares, as follows:Total number of the shares, subject to reverse buying out within the period: 80,800 shares;Average price of the reverse buying out: BGN 10.29 per share; Total amount of the reverse buying out transactions: BGN 831 691.43. In September 2008 the company bought out total 111,930 shares within the reverse buying out first and second procedure. The total number of the shares, subject to reverse buying out as of September, 30th 2008 is 196,180 shares. Average price of the reverse buying out is BGN 10.946 per share."The entire notification (also in English language) is available on link link

Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Oct 1, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 09:24 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Bulgarian Stock Еxchange has published its report on turnover and prices for October 1, 2008. link

Bulgaria Schedule of Events - Oct 2 - Nov 25 Oct 02, 2008, 08:47 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), October 2 (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 banks trim profits by 24.1 pts Apr-Aug’08 Oct 01, 2008, 22:29 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd The growth pace of the Bulgarian banking sector has slowed down by 24.1 percentage points to 33.6% in the five months to August 2008, showed central bank data. link

British Apace Media earns GBP 385,000 from Bulgarian business Oct 01, 2008, 22:27 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd British media company Apace Media turned a profit of GBP 385,000 at its Bulgarian unit for the first half of 2008. link

Furniture maker Yavor plans cap rise Oct 01, 2008, 22:24 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd Bulgaria’s Varna-based furniture manufacturer Yavor will tap own resources to raise its capital to BGN 15.8 million from BGN 112,537 at present, the shareholders decided at a September 30 general meeting. link

Megalan Network eyes triple play mkt Oct 01, 2008, 22:21 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd Sofia-based Internet provider Megalan Network unveiled plans to roll out triple play by the end of the year after pumping BGN 8 million to deploy FTTB technology, expand network and launch IP telephony plus interactive digital television. link

New gas hike deadlier than ever Oct 01, 2008, 22:19 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd Gas prices in Bulgaria will jump by 23.89% as of October 1 and by a further 21.4% from January 1 in case the US dollar plus oil and oil product prices are flat, it emerged after the session of the national tripartite co-operation council. link

Crisis looms largest on small firms Oct 01, 2008, 22:13 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd Bulgaria’s larger production companies may weather the global financial storm but smaller players may be in for painful consequences, a poll of Dnevnik daily showed after managers and bankers warned some businesses might halt investment plans. link

* Croatia *

Croatian Share Indices Close Lower Oct 02, 2008, 18:36 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), October 2 (SeeNews) - The Croatian stock indices retreated on Thursday as uncertainty spilled over from the U.S. across the global markets, analysts said. link

ANALYST VIEW - Croatia’s 2008 C/A Gap To Widen To 10%/GDP Oct 02, 2008, 17:42 CET | Analysis | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), October 2 (SeeNews) – Croatia’s current account deficit is expected to widen to some 10% or even 11% of gross domestic product (GDP) for 2008, up from 8.5% last year, after the shortfall deteriorated in the second quarter due to unfavourable developments in country’s trade in commodities, analysts said on Thursday. link

Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Industrial Production Volume Index, First Results - Aug 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 16:32 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The total industrial production was by 4.5% lower in August 2008 than in August 2007 and, in the period from January to August 2008, it was by 2.8% higher than the production in the same period last year. As compared to the average monthly production in 2007, the industrial production in August 2008 decreased by 6.1%.According to the MIGs 2001 aggregation, in August 2008,as compared to August 2007, Intermediate goods were by 10.2%, Energy by 1.3%, Capital goods by 1.8%, Durable consumer goods by 31.4% and Non-durable consumer goods by 0.8% lower.According to the NKD 2002. sections, in August 2008, as compared to August 2007, the production in Mining and quarrying was by 0.1% and in Electricity, gas and water supply by 0.5% higher, while in Manufacturing it was by 5.6% lower, as compared to August 2007.Comparing the period from January to August 2008 with the same period of 2007, according to the MIGs2001 aggregation, Intermediate goods were by 0.7% and Durable consumer goods by 6.1% lower, while Energy was by 3.6%, Capital goods by 4.0% and Non-durable consumer goods by 5.3% higher.Comparing the period from January to August 2008 with the same period of 2007, according to the NKD 2002. sections, the production in Mining and quarrying was by 0.4%, in Manufacturing it was by 2.4% and in Electricity, gas and water supply by 6.3% higher.In August 2008, the trend index of the total industrial production was by 0.1% lower than in July 2008 (see G-1.). Detailed volume indices of industrial production − seasonally adjusted time series and trend cycle – are published in the First Release No. 2.1.3., which is usually issued one week after this First Release. link

Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Usage of Information and Communication Technologies in Enterprises - 2007 Oct 02, 2008, 16:17 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews USAGE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT) IN ENTERPRISES, 2007, FIRST RESULTS link

Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Households and by Individuals - 2007 Oct 02, 2008, 16:01 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Tendencies- Relatively low number of households equipped with the ICT- Accessibility of broadband Internet access is satisfaying only in larger metro areas and densely-populated areas with more than 500 people per km2- Computer and Internet usage is satisfying only with younger population, up to age of 24- Low level of using on-line services such as E-banking and E-government- Underdeveloped commerce via the Internet; only 7% of individuals purchased goods or services via the Internet during last year- E-skills are at rather low level; younger population, up to the age of 24, is leading the way again, while knowledge decreases quite drastically, proportionally to the age of each individual link

Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Population Estimate of the Republic of Croatia - 2007 Oct 02, 2008, 16:00 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews POPULATION ESTIMATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, 2007This release contains data on the population estimate of the total number of population of the Republic of Croatia at the county level for the period from 2003 to 2007 and mid-2007 population estimate at the country level by sex and single age as well as by sex and age groups at the county level.According to the mid-2007 estimate, the Republic of Croatia had 4 435 982 inhabitants, which is by 4 040, or 0.09%, less than in the previous year.As compared to the previous year, the largest decrease in population number was recorded in the County of Sisak-Moslavina, 2 166 inhabitants or 1.21%, while the largest increase was recorded in the County of Zagreb, 2 163 inhabitants or 0.67%.The share of women in the total number of population of the Republic of Croatia was 51.8% and of men 48.2% and such ratio was recorded in most counties. Still, the largest one was recorded in the City of Zagreb, where the share of women was 53.5% and of men 46.5%. Although the share of a fertility contingent in the totalfemale population did not vary much from previous years, in 2002 it was 47.1% and in 2007 it was 45.8%, its slow decrease is one of the reasons of the decrease in the birth-rate. The share of youth (0-19) years of age) in the totalpopulation was 21.44% at the country level. This share was the highest in the County of Požega-Slavonia, 24.6%, and the lowest in the County of Primorje-Gorski kotar, 17.7%.As compared to the total population, the largest number of persons aged 65 and over was recorded in the County of Lika-Senj (24.4%), while this number was less than 16% in only two counties, Zagreb and Medjimurje.In 2007, the population continues to grow older, so the average age of the total population of the Republic of Croatia was 40.8 years.The disproportion of age-sex structure of population was also evident in the average age. Therefore, it was 39.0 years for men and 42.2 years for women.This tendency of population ageing was seen in the ageing index as well, which d led in the last twenty years and in 2007 it was 103.1%. link

Fitch Affirms Ratings of Italy’s UniCredit Units in Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania Oct 02, 2008, 14:58 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - International rating agency Fitch on Thursday affirmed the ratings of Italian banking group UniCredit’s subsidiaries in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania. link

Croatian Insurer Helios Changes Name to HELIOS Vienna Insurance Group d.d Oct 02, 2008, 11:38 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), October 2 (SeeNews) – Croatian insurer Helios, a unit of Austrian Vienna Insurance Group, said on Thursday it has changed its name to HELIOS Vienna Insurance Group d.d. effective September 15. link

Erste Securities - Croatian Equity Daily - Oct 2, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 11:25 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Highlights: link

FIMA Stock Monitor - Daily Report - Oct 1, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 11:07 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Daily comment: link

Croatia Schedule of Events - Oct 2 - Nov 20 Oct 02, 2008, 09:41 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), October 2 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Croatia through November 20. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

UPDATE 1 - Croatian War Veterans’ Fund To Sell 7.0% Stake in INA to Hungary’s MOL – Media Oct 01, 2008, 19:02 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds fund manager quotes) link

* Macedonia *

National Bank of Macedonia - Monthly Report - Aug 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 16:28 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia has published its monthly report for August 2008. link

State Statistical Office of Macedonia - Business Tendencies in the Manufacturing Industry - Aug 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 14:53 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Estimation of the managers of the industrial manufactory enterprises about the curent business situation of the enterprises in August 2008 link

State Statistical Office of Macedonia - Gross Wage - July 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 14:52 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Average monthly gross-wage paid per employee in July 2008 increased for 8.6 % in relation with July 2007 link

State Statistical Office of Macedonia - Indices of Employees in Industry - Aug 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 14:51 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The number of employees in industry in August 2008 in comparison with same month of previous year increased by 0.2% link

State Statistical Office of Macedonia - Net Wages - July 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 14:50 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Average monthly net-wage paid per employee in July 2008 increased for 10.5% in relation with July 2007 link

State Statistical Office of Macedonia - Production Volume Indices by Activities - Preliminary Data - Aug 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 14:49 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Increase of industrial production in August 2008 in comparison with same month of previous year for 8.6% link

State Statistical Office of Macedonia - Retail Price Index and Consumer Price Index - Sept 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 14:48 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The Retail Price Index in September 2008 compared to August 2008, decreased by 0.8% while Consumer Price Index decreased by 0.2% link

Macedonia’s End-June Gross Foreign Debt Rises to $4.74 Bln Oct 02, 2008, 14:21 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), October 2 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s gross foreign debt totalled $4.738 billion (3.408 billion euro) at the end of June, up 18.9% from the end of 2007, the country’s central bank said on Thursday. link

Macedonian Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Oct 1, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 09:26 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Тhe Macedonian Stock exchange has published its daily report on turnover and prices for October 1, 2008. link

Macedonia Schedule of Events - Oct 2 - Nov 14 Oct 02, 2008, 09:05 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), October 2 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Macedonia through November 14. New or amended entries are marked (*) link

Macedonian Court Cancels Sale of Lead, Zinc Smelter MHK Zletovo - Media Oct 02, 2008, 08:33 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), October 2 (SeeNews) – A Skopje court has cancelled the sale of Macedonia’s sole lead and zinc smelter, insolvent MHK Zletovo, to Skopje-registered trading company Metrudhem for 2.25 million euro ($3.1 million), Vecer daily reported on Thursday. link

* Moldova *

European Fund for South East Europe Lends Moldova $3.0 Mln for On-lending to Small Business Oct 02, 2008, 16:26 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), October 2 (SeeNews) - The European Fund for South East Europe (EFSE) has extended a $3.0 million (2.1 million euro) loan to Moldova’s Rural Finance Corporation (RFC) for on-lending to small business in rural areas, EFSE said on Thursday. link

Moldova’s 9-mo Budget Deficit Falls to 100 Mln Lei (7.0 Mln Euro) Oct 02, 2008, 14:43 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), October 2 (SeeNews) - Moldova had a budget deficit of 100 million lei ($9.7 million/7.0 million euro) in the first nine months of 2008, compared to a gap of 270.2 million lei a year earlier, Finance Ministry figures indicated on Thursday. link

Moldova Schedule of Events - Oct 2 - Oct 29 Oct 02, 2008, 09:56 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), October 2 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Moldova through October 29. New or amended entries are marked (*) link

Moldova Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Oct 1, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 09:26 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Moldova Stock exchange has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for October 1, 2008. link

* Montenegro *

Montenegro Schedule of Events – Oct 2 - Oct 24 Oct 02, 2008, 09:39 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), October 2 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Montenegro through October 24. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

New Securities Exchange of Montenegro - Daily Report - Oct 1, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 09:27 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The New Securities exchange of Montenegro (NEX) has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for October 1, 2008. link

* Romania *

Romania’s Govt To Aim for 2.0%/GDP Budget Gap Next Year - Fin Min Oct 02, 2008, 18:41 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - Romania’s government will aim for a budget deficit equivalent to 2.0% of the gross domestic product (GDP) next year, down from the gap of 2.3% of GDP projected for 2008, Finance and Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian said on Thursday. link

Hungarian Low-Cost Carrier Wizz Air Sees 2008 Revenue from Romanian Operations Above 70 Mln Euro Oct 02, 2008, 18:33 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air on Thursday said its revenue from operations in Romania will top 70 million euro ($96.9 million) this year, or around one-fifth of the company’s total. link

European Commission Endorses Proposed Acquisition of Greece’s OTE by Deutsche Telekom Oct 02, 2008, 18:30 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - The European Commission on Thursday said it has approved the proposed acquisition of the Greek telecommuniations operator OTE by its German peer Deutsche Telekom. link

INTERVIEW – U.S. Dell To Maintain 2008 Its Sale Target for Romania, Bulgaria if Global Crisis Spares Them Oct 02, 2008, 17:48 CET | Interview | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), October 2 (SeeNews) - U.S. computer group Dell will stick to its targets for the sales of desktops, notebooks and servers in Romania and Bulgaria in 2008, if the global financial crisis spares the two Black Sea neighbours, a senior company executive said on Thursday. link

UPDATE 1 - Romanian Leu Slumps Beyond 3.8-per-Euro on Risk Aversion Oct 02, 2008, 17:20 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds closing figures) link

Romanian Stock Prices Rise in Volatile Trading, Investment Funds Pace Gains Oct 02, 2008, 17:13 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - The indices of the Romanian bourse rose in volatile trading on Thursday, with the country’s five regional investment funds leading the gains, the SIFs, brokers said. link

CORRECTED - Alstom Power Service Romania To Build 20 Mln Euro Plant in Romania Oct 02, 2008, 16:25 CET | Story | SeeNews In BUCHAREST story, "Alstom Power Service Romania To Build 20 Mln Euro Plant in Romania", please read in the dateline "October 2" instead of "September 29". link

Raiffeisen Capital & Investment - Corporate Events - Oct 6 - 12, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 16:05 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Raiffeisen Capital & Investment has released its schedule of corporate events for the week October 06 - 12, 2008. link

Romanian Car Manufacturer Dacia To Invest 40 Mln Euro in Spare Parts Warehouse - Media Oct 02, 2008, 15:59 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - Romanian car manufacturer Dacia, a unit of France’s Renault, will invest some 40 million euro ($56.2 million) to build a spare parts warehouse, financial daily Ziarul Financiar reported on Thursday. link

Alstom Power Service Romania To Build 20 Mln Euro Plant in Romania Oct 02, 2008, 15:31 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), September 29 (SeeNews) – Alstom Power Service Romania, part of French industrial engineering group Alstom, will invest 20 million euro ($28 million) into building a plant for power production-related items in Bucharest. link

Romania’s 9-Mo Consolidated Budget Deficit at Estimated 1.3%-1.4%/GDP - Fin Min Oct 02, 2008, 15:27 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - Romania had a nine-month consolidated budget deficit of an estimated 1.3% - 1.4% of its gross domestic product (GDP) projected for 2008, the country’s Finance and Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian said on Thursday. link

Romanian National Bank - International Reserves of National Bank of Romania - Sept 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 15:23 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews At end-September 2008, foreign exchange reserves of the National Bank of Romania stood at EUR 26,021 million. link

ROMANIA’S 9-MO CONS BUDGET DEFICIT AT ESTIMATED 1.3%-1.4%/GDP - FIN MIN Oct 02, 2008, 15:11 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Fitch Affirms Ratings of Italy’s UniCredit Units in Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania Oct 02, 2008, 14:58 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - International rating agency Fitch on Thursday affirmed the ratings of Italian banking group UniCredit’s subsidiaries in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania. link

Romania Sells 411.2 Mln Lei (110 Mln Euro) in 5-Yr T-Bills, Yields Rise Oct 02, 2008, 14:26 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - Romania on Thursday sold 411.2 million lei ($154 million/110 million euro) worth of five-year T-bills, slightly below its 500 million lei target offer, as yields rose, the country’s central bank, BNR, said. link

Romanian Leu Slumps Beyond 3.8-per-Euro on Risk Aversion Oct 02, 2008, 13:54 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - Romania’s leu on Thursday depreciated beyond the 3.8-per-euro mark, being traded at 3.8000/3.8070 per euro by 1140 GMT, dealers said. link

Ieba Trust - Romanian Market Daily - Oct 1, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 11:29 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews The SIFs shares generated 62.6% of the Regular market daily turnover link

Romania’s Impact Developer & Contractor To Borrow 12 Mln Euro To Finance Housing Project Oct 02, 2008, 10:51 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) – Romanian real estate developer Impact Developer & Contractor said on Thursday it will borrow 12 million euro ($16.8 million) from the local unit of Greece’s Piraeus Bank to finance a 500 million euro housing project. link

Bucharest Stock Exchange - Monthly Bulletin - Sept 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 10:38 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Bucharest Stock exchange has published its monthly bulletin on trading volumes and prices for September 2008. link

Raiffeisen Capital & Investment - Investment Daily Romania - Oct 2, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 10:37 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews WatchlistIMP will resume trading today after holding a GSM.In the newsRomania fx reserves rise to EUR 26 bnAccording to data released by the central bank (BNR), in September Romanias hard currency reserves, excluding 103.7 tonnes of gold, rose by EUR 101 mn on the month to EUR 26 bn. Inflows were EUR 1.1 bn, coming mainly from changes in the minimum reserve requirement on hard currency liabilities for commercial banks and sums supplying the European Commission account. Outflows reached EUR 1 bn, largely reflecting payments to service Romania’s public external debt, payments to the European Commission and changes in the minimum reserve requirement on hard currency liabilities for commercial banks. Payments maturing in October toservice external public debt sum to EUR 46 mn.SIF Oltenia - shareholders meetingSIF Oltenia (SIF5) called a shareholders meeting for November 14/15, 2008. Among other issues, the shareholders are asked to appoint new Board members as the current Board m andate expires on November 20. Another important point on the meetings agenda it the approval of a share repurchase program that targets the acquisition from the open market of a maximum of 10% of SIF5 share capital. The shares would be repurchased at prices ranging between RON 1.36 and RON 2.5. The repurchase is proposed to take place within the next 12 months from the publication of the GSM resolutions in the Official Gazette. The Board will be entitled to use the shares for a share capital reduction or for measures of adjusting the trading price of its shares. We remind that the quorum for the second calling of SIF5 extraordinary GSM is set at 50% and there are virtually no chances to meet the quorum requirements due to (i) disperse shareholding structure, and (ii) shareholders voting rights being limited to 1%.Prospectiuni - share repurchase programGeological and geographical prospecting company Prospectiuni (PRSN) approved a share repurchase program for some 71.8 mn of its shares or 10% of the share capital. The shares will be bought m the open market at a price ranging between RON 0.1 and RON 1 within the next 12 months. PRSN will use the shares for Employees Share Options plan.Oil Terminal - dividend paymentIn a release to the Bucharest Stock Exchange, harbour operator Oil Terminal (OIL) has announced that it will start the payment of its 2007 dividends (gross dividend of RON 0.008 per share), which accounts for a payout ratio of 62%. The registration date has been set for May 19, 2008 and the company will pay the dividends within the following six months. link

Romanian Engineering Firm Prospectiuni To Buy Back up to 10% of Its Shares Oct 02, 2008, 10:35 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - Romanian engineering company Prospectiuni said it will buy back up to 10% of its own shares over a period of one year. link

Bucharest Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Regulated Market - Oct 1, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 09:16 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Bucharest Stock exchange has published its report on trading volumes and prices on the regulated market for October 1, 2008. link

Bucharest Stock Exchange - Daily Report - RASDAQ Market - Oct 1, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 09:15 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Bucharest Stock exchange has published its daily RASDAQ market report for October 1, 2008. link

Romania Schedule of Events - Oct 2 - Nov 30 Oct 02, 2008, 09:01 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Romania through November 30. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Romania’s Aug Industrial PPI Rises 1.02% M/M, Up 20.07% Y/Y - Table Oct 02, 2008, 09:00 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), October 2 (SeeNews) - Romania’s August producer price index (PPI) for the industrial sector rose by 1.02% month-on-month and was 20.07% higher on the year, the country’s statistics board, INS, said on Thursday. link

ROMANIA AUG INDUSTRIAL PPI +1.02% M/M, +20.07% Y/Y VS +0.99% M/M, +20.34% Y/Y IN JULY - STATS BOARD Oct 02, 2008, 09:00 CET | Alert | SeeNews

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Romania rejects Aero Vodochody bid for Avioane Craiova Oct 01, 2008, 22:16 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd (ADP) - Oct 1, 2008 - The Romanian privatisation agency AVAS rejected the bid of Czech aircraft maker Aero Vodochody for Romanian peer Avioane Craiova over demands made by the Czech company, Aero said in a press release on Tuesday. link

* Serbia *

Serbia To Seek 500 Mln Euro Cheap Loan from Gazprombank - Media Oct 02, 2008, 16:58 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), October 2 (SeeNews) – Serbia will seek a 500 million euro ($702 million) cheap loan from Russia’s Gazprombank to make up for the "unrealistically low" price of 440 million euro that Gazprom has offered to pay for 51% of Serbian oil monopoly NIS, the Belgrade-based Vecernje Novosti daily reported on Thursday. link

Belgrade Shares Sink Deeper, Volumes Rise Oct 02, 2008, 15:58 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), October 2 (SeeNews) - The indices of the Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) fell further on Thursday in bigger volumes, brokers said. link

Serbia’s MK Group Launches Squeeze-Out Bid for Local Food Producer Granexport Oct 02, 2008, 13:17 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), October 2 (SeeNews) - Serbian agricultural company MK Group said it has launched a squeeze-out bid for the remaining 2.23% stake in local food firm Granexport it does not own. link

Sinteza Investment Group - Daily Market Wrap Up - Oct 1, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 12:02 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Sinteza Investment Group has released its daily trading report for October 1, 2008. The report contains an overview of the Serbian Financial market. link

Vojvodjanska Banka - Daily Vobnews - Oct 2, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 11:57 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Vojvodjanska banka released its Daily Vobnews report for October 2, 2008 containing the following charts and tables: link

U.S. Donates $1.1 Mln in Customs Equipment To Help Kosovo Improve Services Oct 02, 2008, 11:38 CET | Story | SeeNews PRISTINA, October 2 (SeeNews) - The U.S. donated on Thursday technical equipment worth $1.1 million (783,000 euro) to help Kosovo improve its customs services and border control, the U.S. embassy in Pristina said. link

Serbia’s Jan-Aug Tourist Numbers Drop 2.0% Y/Y - Table Oct 02, 2008, 10:35 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), October 2 (SeeNews) - The number of tourists in Serbia through August edged down 2.0% year-on-year to 1,529,051, the country’s statistics office said on Thursday. link

Serbia Schedule of Events - Oct 2 - Dec 30 Oct 02, 2008, 09:33 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), October 2 (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 - Oct 1, 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 09:14 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Belgrade Stock exchange has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for October 1, 2008. link

Serbia’s Pirot Municipality, Chemicals Group Tigar, Italian Decotra To Build Jointly Mini Hydro Power Plants - Media Oct 02, 2008, 08:44 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), October 2 (SeeNews) – Serbia’s municipality of Pirot, local rubber and chemicals group Tigar and Italian energy company Decotra have established a joint venture, Pirot Energo, to build mini hydropower plants in eastern Serbia, Serbian TV channel Pirot TV reported on Thursday. link

* Slovenia *

Slovenian Stock Indices End Mixed in Lower Turnover Oct 02, 2008, 17:47 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), October 2 (SeeNews) - Slovenian stock indices ended mixed in lower turnover on Thursday with most blue chips losing value, brokers said. link

Slovenia Raises 2008 Forecasts for GDP Growth, Inflation - Govt Think Tank Oct 02, 2008, 12:08 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), October 2 (SeeNews) - Slovenia has raised its forecasts for inflation and gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year, the government’s Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development (UMAR) said on Wednesday. link

SLOVENIA RAISES 2008 AVERAGE INFLATION FORECAST TO 6.2% FROM 5.2% - GOVT THINK TANK Oct 02, 2008, 11:35 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

SLOVENIA RAISES 2008 GDP GROWTH FORECAST TO 4.8% FROM 4.4% - GOVT THINK TANK Oct 02, 2008, 11:32 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Ljubljana Stock Exchange - Statistical Report - H1 2008 Oct 02, 2008, 10:40 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews NEWS AND EVENTS link

Vienna Bourse has to buy 100% in Ljubljana stock exchange - report Oct 01, 2008, 22:33 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd Wiener Boerse AG, the Vienna Stock Exchange (VSE) operator, should buy the outstanding shares of its counterpart Ljubljana Stock Exchange (LJSE), Austrian news agency APA reported quoting Slovenian business paper Finance on October 1, 2008. link

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