SLOVENIA
Productivity of Slovenian SMEs almost 25% below EU average
Small and medium-sized enterprises in Slovenia generate 65.1% of added value and 73.4% of jobs in the non-financial sector of the economy, which is above the EU average, according to the annual report from the European Commission. The annual productivity of these companies was however almost 25% below the EU average.
Source: STA
Pahor's office to start consultations on C-bank governor
The Office of President Borut Pahor will launch consultations on Wednesday with the heads of parliamentary deputy groups on five candidates for the governor of Banka Slovenije in what is a second attempt to appoint the top official at the central bank.
Source: STA
Poultry producer Perutnina Ptuj sold to Ukraine's MHP
Steel group SIJ has signed a contract to sell poultry producer Perutnina Ptuj to Ukrainian group MHP, pending clearance from the Slovenian anti-trust agency.
Source: STA
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
Dow plunges more than 500 points, erases gain for 2018; European markets close sharply lower
The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 fell sharply on Tuesday and turned negative for the year as a decline in Target shares pressured retailers, while some of the most popular tech shares dropped again. The 30-stock Dow dropped 551.80 points to 24,465.64 and the S&P 500 plunged 1.8 percent to close at 2,641.89. Nasdaq Composite also dropped 1.7 percent to 6,908.82. Target fell 10.5 percent after reporting weaker-than-expected earnings for the previous quarter. The company also posted lighter-than-forecast same-store sales, which is a key metric for retailers. The major indexes were also under pressure as steep losses in crude pushed down the energy sector. West Texas Intermediate futures plunged nearly 7 percent on Tuesday amid worries about rising supply across the globe. European markets moved sharply lower Tuesday, extending the latest wave of global selling. The pan-European Stoxx 600 ended down around 1.09 percent by the close, with most sectors and major bourses in negative territory. Looking at other individual stocks, France's Renault lost a further 1.3 percent by Tuesday's close. That was the second day of trade after it emerged Nissan's Chairman Carlos Ghosn had been arrested concerning allegations of financial misconduct. Ghosn is also CEO and chair of Renault.
Source: CNBC
SERBIA
Fintel Energija starts trading on Belgrade bourse
Fintel Energija, the Serbian subsidiary of Italy's Fintel Energia Group, started trading on Tuesday on the Belgrade Stock Exchange, the company said. The shares of Fintel Energija started trading on the stock market at an indicative price of 500 dinars ($4.8/4.2 euro) apiece after the successful completion of the first initial public offering (IPO) on the Belgrade Stock Exchange since 1940, the company said in an e-mailed statement.
Source: Renewablesnow.com
Number of online points-of-sale accepting DinaCard increases
The number of online points-of-sale (PoS) accepting payments with the national Dina card is growing fast, and at this point, DinaCard payments can be made at over 40 online PoS, the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) announced today. The domestic card can be used to buy, among other things, books, sports gear, clothing, toys, furniture, insurance services, and services on the eGovernment portal.
Source: Ekapija
Harmonization of certificates for improved agricultural trade of Serbia and UAE agreed
Serbian Minister of Agriculture Branislav Nedimovic and UAE Minister of State for Food Security Mariam Al Mehairi agreed on Monday, November 19, for halal certificates to be harmonized in Belgrade in the upcoming period with the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA). The press release says that the procedure of harmonization of veterinary certificates for the export of beef, lamb, goat meat, poultry and meat meant for human consumption, milk and dairy products, eggs and egg products, honey and honey products with the UAE has been finished.
Source: Ekapija
Negotiations on cooperation of Serbia with Alibaba in progress – Confidentiality agreement signed
The Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications of Serbia has signed a confidentiality agreement with Alibaba, which obligates both parties not to publicly announce information about the ongoing negotiations about the cooperation, the ministry announced on Monday, November 19.
Source: Ekapija
