Seenews: news report of 30.12.2008

Countries:

* Bosnia *

Bosnia’s Federation Adopts 2009 Budget - Media Dec 30, 2008, 16:49 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), December 30 (SeeNews) – The upper house of Bosnia’s Muslim-Croat Federation parliament on Tuesday adopted the region’s 2009 budget which sets both spending and revenue at 1.601 billion marka ($1.147 billion/818.6 million euro), lower than the respective targets budgeted for 2008, public broadcaster RTVFBiH said. link

INTERVIEW – Bosnia’s First Ever Private IPO Succeeds Amidst Global Turmoil - Issuer Dec 30, 2008, 16:04 CET | Interview | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), December 30 (SeeNews) – Bosnia’s first ever initial public offering (IPO) by a private company was concluded successfully on Monday amidst the global financial troubles, the issuer Fratello Trade, an importer and distributor of frozen foods, said on Tuesday. link

Bosnia’s Biggest Power Utility Sees 2009 Profit Up 130%, Trebles 2008 Profit - Table Dec 30, 2008, 13:10 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), December 30 (SeeNews) – Bosnia’s biggest power utility, state-controlled Elektroprivreda BiH plans to more than double its profit to 80.8 million marka ($57.9 million/41.3 million euro) next year thanks to exports of its projected electricity surplus, it said on Tuesday. link

Bosnia’s Federation Parliament Lower House Approves 2009 Budget - Media Dec 30, 2008, 09:44 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), December 30 (SeeNews) – The lower house of Bosnia’s Muslim-Croat Federation parliament approved late on Monday the region’s 2009 budget which sets both spending and revenue targets lower that this year at 1.601 billion marka ($1.147 billion/818.6 million euro), public broadcaster RTVFBiH reported on Tuesday. link

Bosnia Schedule of Events – Dec 30 – Jan 9 Dec 30, 2008, 09:10 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), December 30 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Bosnia and Herzegovina through January 9. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Bulgaria *

Bulgaria’s Jan-Nov Budget Surplus Rises to 2.35 Bln Euro - Table Dec 30, 2008, 18:08 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), December 30 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria’s budget surplus for the first eleven months of 2008 rose to preliminary 4.598 (billion levs ($3.337 billion/2.350 billion euro) from 3.959 billion levs a year earlier, the Finance Ministry said on Tuesday. link

BULGARIA’S JAN-NOV CONS BUDGET SURPLUS AT 4.598 BLN LEVS (2.350 BLN EURO) VS 3.959 BLN LEVS SURPLUS YEAR AGO - FIN MIN Dec 30, 2008, 17:50 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Bulgarian Flag Carrier Sees 10% Rise in 2008 Passenger Numbers Dec 30, 2008, 16:12 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), December 30 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria Air, the country’s flag carrier, said on Tuesday it expects to carry 10% more passengers in 2008 thanks to new destinations and more frequent flights. link

Bulgaria Wraps up Capacity Increase of Unit 4 in Maritsa East 2 Power Plant Dec 30, 2008, 15:37 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), December 30 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria on Tuesday reconnected to the grid the upgraded Unit 4 of its coal-fired power station Maritsa East 2 four months early, the Economy Ministry said. link

Bulgarian National Statistical Institute - General Government Expenditure by Function and Subsectors - 2006 - Dec 30, 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 11:35 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The Bulgarian National Statistical Institute (NSI) has published its report on general government expenditure by function and subsectors for 2006. link

Bulgarian National Bank - Interest Rates Statistics - Nov 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 11:17 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews In November 2008 theBase Interest Rate was 5.72%. It rose by 1.46 percentage points on November 2007 and by 0.34 percentage points on October 2008. link

Bulgarian National Bank - International Investment Position - Q3 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 11:09 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has published its quarterly report on international investment postion for the third quarter of 2008. link

Bulgarian National Bank - Weekly Balance Sheet of Issue Dept - Dec 23, 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 11:02 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has published the weekly balance sheet of its issue department as of December 23, 2008. link

Bulgaria’s International Fair- Plovdiv Abandons 50 Mln Euro Expansion Plan - Media Dec 30, 2008, 10:42 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), December 30 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian operator of industrial exhibition halls International Fair-Plovdiv will not move forward with an over 50 million euro ($71.4 million) plan to expand in Sofia, local Dnevnik daily reported on Tuesday. link

FFBH - Bulgaria Morning Update - Dec 30, 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 09:55 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews MARKET WRAP-UPThe BSE was closed on Monday, 29th December, 2008. link

Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Daily Bulletin, Selected Announcements - Dec 29, 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 09:16 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews With reference to a decision of the Board of Directors of CCB Real Estate Fund REIT-Sofia /5CK/ dated 15.12.2008 for increase in capital of the company, BSE-Sofia informs about the following:- Number of shares before the capital increase: 650,000- Number of shares, offered for subscription: 427,193- Number of the rights issued: 650,000- Ratio between rights issued and the new shares (right/shares): 1/0.6572- Everyone may subscribe to at least one new share and to utmost such number of shares equal to the number of the owned and/or acquired rights multiplied by 0.6572.- Lower limit, in order the subscription to be considered successful: 214,000 new shares- The BSE code of the issue of rights will be additionally announced.- Issuing value: BGN 57 - The initial date for trading in rights on the Exchange as well as the concrete dates for trading in rights will be additionally announced.- The right to participate in the capital increase will be entitled to all shareholders, who ac quired shares of the company not later than 7 days following the promulgation of the announcement in the State Gazette.- The specific dates for trade in rights, subscription to shares and the auction pursuant to Art. 112b of the POSA will be additionally announced after publication of the announcement in the State Gazette and in a national daily. link

Bulgaria Schedule of Events - Dec 30 - March 11 Dec 30, 2008, 08:55 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), December 30 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Bulgaria through March 11, 2009. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Croatia *

Croatian Share Indices Mostly Fall in Calm Trading Dec 30, 2008, 18:34 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), December 30 (SeeNews) - The Croatian share indices mostly fell on Tuesday in calm trading as investors sought safe-haven in debt instruments, market players said. link

Croatia Sells T-bills Above Target, Yields Mixed Dec 30, 2008, 15:44 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), December 30 (SeeNews) - The Croatian Finance Ministry on Tuesday said that it sold 1.044 billion kuna ($202 million/142 million euro) in two Treasury bill issues, above its target offer of 750 million kuna. link

Croatia’s Oct Net Salary Rises Real 1.3% M/M - Table Dec 30, 2008, 13:57 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), Dcember 30 (SeeNews) - The average net monthly salary in Croatia was 5,263 kuna ($939/728 euro) in October, up by a real 1.3% from the previous month, the State Statistics Bureau said on Tuesday. link

Croatia’s Q3 Economic Growth Slows to Real 1.6% - Table Dec 30, 2008, 13:12 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), December 30 (SeeNews) - Croatia’s economic growth slowed to 1.6% in the third quarter of this year from 3.4% in the previous quarter and 5.1% in the third quarter of 2007, the State Statistics Office said on Tuesday. link

Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Hotels and Restaurants by Counties - Q3 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 12:52 CET | State Agencies Reports | AII Data Processing Ltd In the third quarter of 2008, the realised turnover in the hotel and restaurant activity nominally increased by 7.2%, as compared to the same period of 2007. link

CROATIA’S Q3 GDP GROWTH SLOWS TO REAL 1.6% FROM 3.4% IN Q2, 5.1% IN Q3’07 – STATS OFFICE Dec 30, 2008, 12:46 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Croatia Schedule of Events – Dec 30 – Jan 19 Dec 30, 2008, 10:08 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), December 30 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Croatia through January 19. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Erste Securities - Availability of Stocks to MPFs and OIFs - Dec 29, 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 09:49 CET | Broker’s Report | AII Data Processing Ltd Important Notes link

Erste Securities - Croatian Equity Daily - Dec 30, 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 09:25 CET | Broker’s Report | AII Data Processing Ltd Highlights: link

* Macedonia *

AT A GLANCE – Macedonia Has NATO, EU Setbacks As Name Wrangle With Greece Continues Dec 30, 2008, 18:40 CET | Analysis | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), December 30 (SeeNews) – Macedonia suffered frustrating diplomatic setbacks in 2008 as Greece blocked its membership of NATO and also threatened to thwart its EU aspirations unless the long-running name dispute between the two neighbours is resolved. link

Yields Fall on Macedonian Three-Month T-Bills Dec 30, 2008, 16:50 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), December 30 (SeeNews) - Yields on Macedonian three-month Treasury bills fell at an auction on Tuesday, central bank data showed. link

Macedonia Schedule of Events – Dec 30 - March 19 Dec 30, 2008, 09:45 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), December 30 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Macedonia through March 19, 2009. New or amended entries are marked (*) link

Macedonian Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Dec 29, 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 09:19 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Тhe Macedonian Stock exchange has published its daily report on turnover and prices for December 29, 2008. link

* Moldova *

Moldova’s Foreign Debt Rises to $2.143 Bln at End-Nov - Table Dec 30, 2008, 16:21 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), December 30 (SeeNews) - Moldova’s foreign debt rose to $2.143 billion (1.5 billion euro) at the end of November from $2.125 billion a month earlier, the country’s central bank, BNM, said on Tuesday. link

MOLDOVA’S END-NOV FOREIGN DEBT RISES TO $2.143 BLN FROM $2.125 BLN AT END-OCT - C-BANK Dec 30, 2008, 16:02 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

INTERVIEW – FDI in Moldova Seen Rising 12% to $640 Mln in 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 15:22 CET | Interview | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), December 30 (SeeNews) - The inflow of foreign direct investment to Moldova will grow by 12% this year to $640 million (448 million euro), with some investors switching production from EU countries, and the bulk of the funds are channeled into food processing and the textile industry, a government official said. link

UPDATE 2 - Moldova’s 9-mo C/A Gap Widens 68.5% to $776.18 Mln Dec 30, 2008, 12:27 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds central bank comment, background) link

UPDATE 1 - Moldova’s 9-mo C/A Gap Widens 68.5% to $776.18 Mln - Table Dec 30, 2008, 11:40 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds table) link

Moldova’s 9-mo C/A Gap Widens 68.5% to $776.18 Mln Dec 30, 2008, 11:08 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), December 30 (SeeNews) - Moldova’s current account deficit in the first nine months through September grew by 68.5% on the year to $776.18 million (543 million euro), data from the country’s central bank, BNM, indicated on Tuesday. link

MOLDOVA’S 9-MO C/A GAP WIDENS 68.5% TO $776.18 MLN Dec 30, 2008, 11:01 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Moldova Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Dec 29, 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 09:01 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Moldova Stock exchange has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for December 29, 2008. link

Moldova Schedule of Events - Dec 30 - Jan 30 Dec 30, 2008, 08:32 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), December 30 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Moldova through January 30. link

* Montenegro *

New Securities Exchange of Montenegro - Daily Report - Dec 29, 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 08:58 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The New Securities exchange of Montenegro (NEX) has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for December 29, 2008. link

* Romania *

Romania’s 2008 Budget Deficit Nears 5.0% of GDP - PM Dec 30, 2008, 17:12 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), December 30 (SeeNews) - Romania’s 2008 consolidated budget deficit is approaching 5.0% of the gross domestic product (GDP) projected for the year, Prime Minister Emil Boc told reporters on Tuesday. link

Romanian Leu Strengthens vs Euro, Dealers Suspect C-Bank Intervention Dec 30, 2008, 17:11 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), December 30 (SeeNews) - The Romanian leu strengthened versus the euro on Tuesday, the last trading day for the year, prompting dealers to suspect central bank intervention. link

Bucharest Stock Exchange - Monthly Bulletin - RASDAQ - Nov 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 15:37 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Bucharest Stock exchange (BSE) has released its monthly RASDAQ bulletin for November 2008. link

Spain’s FCC Construccion Wins 161 Mln Euro Road Works Deal in Romania Dec 30, 2008, 12:53 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), December 30 (SeeNews) - Romania has awarded a 161.2 million euro ($228.8 million) contract to Spain’s FCC Construccion to build a 32.3-kilometre toll road between the cities of Timisoara and Arad, in western Romania, FCC said on Tuesday. link

Industry Officials Say Romanian Car Market Could Halve in 2009 – Media Dec 30, 2008, 10:12 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), December 30 (SeeNews) - New car sales in Romania could halve next year if no measures are taken to boost the industry and if the pollution tax is revised, Bucharest-based daily Business Standard reported on Tuesday quoting industry officials. link

Romania’s November Residential Building Permits Down 7.6% Y/Y - Table Dec 30, 2008, 09:47 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), December 30 (SeeNews) - Romania issued 4,095 building permits for residential projects in November, down 7.6% from a year earlier, the country’s statistics board, INS, said on Tuesday. link

Romania’s Business Sentiment Remains Mostly Negative in December Dec 30, 2008, 09:33 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), December 30 (SeeNews) - Romanian managers remain mostly negative about the performance of the country’s economy in the three months through February, with expectations for stabilisation in the retail and services sectors, the country’s statistics board, INS, said on Tuesday. link

Romania Schedule of Events - Dec 30 – March 9 Dec 30, 2008, 09:01 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), December 30 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Romania through March 9. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* Serbia *

Belgrade Shares Extend Gains, Turnover Doubles Dec 30, 2008, 16:34 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), December 30 (SeeNews) - The indices of the Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) on Tuesday extended their gains ahead of the New Year holiday and turnover doubled, brokers said. link

Serbia’s Dec Retail Prices Drop 1.0% M/M, Up 6.8% Y/Y - Table Dec 30, 2008, 13:47 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), December 30 (SeeNews) - Serbia’s December retail prices fell 1.0% month-on-month after edging down 0.1% in November, the country’s statistics office said on Tuesday. link

Serbia’s January-November Trade Gap Widens 29.2% to $11.155 Bln Dec 30, 2008, 13:39 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), December 30 (SeeNews) - Serbia’s trade deficit for the first eleven months of 2008 rose by 29.2% year-on-year to $11.155 billion (7.857 billion euro), the country’s statistics office said on Tuesday. link

Serbia’s Q3 GDP Grows by Real 4.9% Y/Y, Jan-Sept GDP Up 6.5% Dec 30, 2008, 13:34 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), December 30 (SeeNews) - Serbia’s economy grew by a real 4.9% on the year in the third quarter of 2008, slower than the 6.6% annual rise recorded a year earlier, the country’s statistics office said on Tuesday. link

SERBIA’S JAN-NOV TRADE GAP WIDENS 29.2% TO $11.155 BLN - STATS OFFICE Dec 30, 2008, 13:29 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Serbia’s November Industrial Output Falls 2.6% Y/Y - Table Dec 30, 2008, 13:19 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), December 30 (SeeNews) - Serbia’s November industrial output dropped 2.6% on the year after falling by an annual 3.4% in October, the country’s statistics office said on Tuesday. link

SERBIA’S Q3 GDP GROWTH SLOWS TO 4.9% Y/Y FROM 6.6% YEAR AGO - STATS OFFICE Dec 30, 2008, 13:18 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

SERBIA’S NOV INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT FALLS 2.6% Y/Y VS 3.4% Y/Y DROP IN OCT - STATS OFFICE Dec 30, 2008, 13:14 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Serbia’s Parliament Adopts 2009 Budget Dec 30, 2008, 11:32 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), December 30 (SeeNews) – Serbia’s parliament endorsed an International Monetary Fund-backed 2009 budget targetting deficit equivalent to 1.5% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) an hour and a half before midnight on Monday, the government said. link

Vojvodjanska Banka - Daily Vobnews - Dec 30, 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 09:56 CET | Broker’s Report | AII Data Processing Ltd Serbia’s Vojvodjanska banka released its Daily Vobnews report for December 30, 2008. link

Belgrade Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Dec 29, 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 09:15 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews The Belgrade Stock exchange has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for December 29, 2008. link

Serbia Schedule of Events - Dec 30 – May 1 Dec 30, 2008, 08:05 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), December 30 (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 Stocks Rise; Krka, Telco Lift Turnover Dec 30, 2008, 17:24 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), December 30 (SeeNews) - The share indices of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange (LJSE) rose on Tuesday in higher turnover with drug maker Krka and blue-chip Telekom Slovenije attracting the highest investors’ interest, brokers said. link

Slovenian Statistical Office - Turnover in Distributive Trade - Provisional Data - Oct 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 12:04 CET | State Agencies Reports | AII Data Processing Ltd In October 2008 volume turnover in retail trade down compared to September 2008 and up compared to October 2007. link

Slovenian Statistical Office - Consumer Price Indices - Dec 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 11:58 CET | State Agencies Reports | AII Data Processing Ltd In December another deflation (-0.6%); annual inflation drops to 2.1%. link

Slovenian Statistical Office - Turnover in Service Activities - Provisional Data - Oct 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 11:53 CET | State Agencies Reports | AII Data Processing Ltd Compared to September 2008, in October 2008 turnover from the sale of services in enterprise consultancy was up by 4.7%. link

Slovenian Statistical Office - Basic Interest Rate - Jan 2009 Dec 30, 2008, 11:46 CET | State Agencies Reports | AII Data Processing Ltd In January 2009 the monthly basic interest rate fell to 0.2%, while the yearly rate fell to 2.38%. link

Slovenian Statistical Office - Quarterly Non-financial Accounts by Institutional Sectors - Q3 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 11:09 CET | State Agencies Reports | AII Data Processing Ltd In 2008 the general government account showed deficit at 0.8% of GDP, while a year ago in the same period it showed surplus at 0.1% of GDP; the deficit with the rest of the world in the third quarter of 2008 amounted already to 7.0% of GDP in comparison with 5.2% of GDP a year before link

Slovenian Statistical Office - Turnover in Retail Trade - Preliminary Data - Nov 2008 Dec 30, 2008, 11:03 CET | State Agencies Reports | AII Data Processing Ltd In November 2008 volume turnover in retail trade up compared to both October 2008 and November 2007. link

Useful advice:

Seenews