SLOVENIA

Stock market: SBI TOP index slightly down in slow trading

The SBI TOP index of blue chips slid 0.22% to 882.78 points as none of the big names gained ground on Thursday. The biggest loser was logistics company Intereuropa, which dropped 3.7% to EUR 2.60. Total turnover amounted to EUR 374,290.

Brussels expected to make decision on NLB

The European Commission is expected shortly to issue a decision on Slovenia's changed commitments on the privatization of NLB bank, under which at least 50% plus one share will be sold by the end of the year and the reminder up to a controlling interest of 25% plus one share by the end of 2019.

Exports rise 11.2% in January-June, imports up by 10.9%

Slovenia's merchandise exports rose 11.2% in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period last year, whereas imports grew at a slightly slower pace, 10.9%. The export-import ratio stood at 102.8%, the Statistics Office said on Thursday.

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

Nasdaq posts longest winning streak since October as Amazon hits record high; European stocks close mixed as US-China trade row escalates; Adidas soars 9.4%

The Nasdaq Composite rose slightly on Thursday, lifted by gains in Amazon and Apple, to notch its longest winning streak in nearly a year. The tech-heavy index gained 0.04 percent to close at 7,891.78 as Amazon rose 0.6 percent to an all-time high while Apple jumped 0.8 percent. The Nasdaq also posted an eight-day winning streak, its longest since October. Meanwhile, the broader market closed slightly lower as the S&P 500 failed to reach an all-time high. The S&P 500 fell 0.1 percent to 2,853.58 as energy and financials lagged. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 74.52 points to 25,509.23 with Procter & Gamble slipping 1.2 percent. Booking Holdings and Norwegian Cruise Line both reported better-than-expected earnings on Thursday. Shares of Norwegian Cruise Line rose more than 4 percent, but Booking Holdings fell after issuing a weak third-quarter profit forecast. The producer's price index remained unchanged in July, while economists polled by Reuters expected a gain of 0.2 percent. The report comes as the latest reading of the consumer price index — a key metric for inflation — is set for release on Friday. European stocks revealed a mixed picture at the market close on Thursday amid a deepening U.S.-China trade dispute and a flurry of corporate earnings. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed 0.1 percent higher with sectors pointing in different directions. Adidas outperformed following its earnings report. Shares in the sportswear company closed 9.4 percent to the upside after it posted a stronger-than-anticipated second-quarter net profit, despite taking an impairment charge on its struggling Reebok brand. At the other end of the index, G4S foundered to close 7.8 percent in the red after reporting a fall in its first-half profit. The world's largest security group saw its latest figures take a hit from restructuring costs and weaker Middle East revenues.

SERBIA

NBS: Key policy rate kept on hold

At yesterday’s meeting, the NBS Executive Board voted to keep the key policy rate on hold, at 3.0%. In making such a decision, the Executive Board was primarily guided by the expected movement in inflation and its underlying factors going forward, and the effects of past monetary policy easing. After reaching this year’s low in April, inflation returned within the target tolerance band and measured 2.3% y-o-y in June, consistent with expectations.

Initial price for PKB at EUR 104.5 million – Tendering for privatization starts, bid submission deadline September 10

The Ministry of Economy has opened the tender for the sale of the property of PKB Korporacija at the initial price of EUR 104.5 million, and the bid submission deadline is September 10. The offer includes not just the property of PKB, but also the property of its subsidiaries – Ekolab, Institut PKB Agroekonomik and Veterinarska Stanica PKB. It also includes 16,785 hectares of land in Palilula, Surcin and Zrenjanin, office buildings, equipment, spare parts and cattle.

TGAS: Serbian Messer Tehnogas acquires Messer Slovenia

Industrial gas manufacturer Messer Tehnogas (TGAS) announced this Wednesday that it had signed an agreement with Messer Belgium N.V. on the buyout of its stake of 91.24%, in Messer Slovenia, reports seebiz.eu. All three companies are members of the German Messer Group. Messer Tehnogas has effectively taken over control over 100% of the holding at Messer Slovenia, as the Slovenian company controls the remaining 8.76% stake, the Serbian company said in the document filed at the Belgrade Stock Exchange. The price has not been disclosed. Slovenian unit generated EUR 20m in revenues in 2017.

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