SLOVENIA
Slovenian ICT sector increasingly attractive to foreign investors
There has been a noticeable trend lately in Slovenian information and communication technology (ICT) companies being acquired by foreign buyers, with the acquirers seeing the Slovenian companies as strong players with good potential.
Source: STA
Govt criticised for lavish spending, absence of reform
At a time of upbeat economic growth, the government has increased public spending, earning the criticism of lavishness and even a constitutional review of this year's budget. It has raised public sector pay, minimum wage and municipal spending, but has not yet tackled taxes comprehensively or updated the national asset management strategy.
Source: STA
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
Dow gains more than 250 points on hopes US and China restart trade talks; European stocks close flat as Trump signals US-China trade talks will resume
Stocks jumped on Monday after President Donald Trump said China is ready to come back to the negotiating table following a phone call Sunday.
Semiconductor stocks such as Micron and Advanced Micro Devices gained 1.1% and 2.5%, respectively. Apple led the Dow, rising 1.9%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 269.93 points higher, or 1.1% to 25,898.83. The S&P 500 climbed 1.1% to 2,878.38 while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.3% to close at 7,853.74.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was just above the flatline at the closing bell, with China-exposed autos stocks leading gains on a 1% climb. Healthcare stocks were the worst performers, falling 0.4%. U.K. markets were closed due to a bank holiday.
Source: CNBC
SERBIA
Deadline for submission of bids for the sale of Komercijalna Banka moved
The deadline for the submission of non-binding bids for the purchase of the state’s share package in Komercijalna Banka has been moved from August 23 to September 6. The reason is that certain potential purchasers need more time to examine the documentation of the bank’s operations. The Government of Serbia opened the public invitation on the last day of May. The potential purchasers for the takeover of one of the largest banks in Serbia are Raiffeisen Bank, AIK Bank, NLB Bank and the American-European consortium consisting of Ripplewood Advisors, Direktna Banka and Greece’s Eurobank.
Izvor: Ekapija
Serbia to invest up to 2.4 bln euro in road linking Corridors X, XI
Serbia plans to invest up to 2.4 billion euro ($2.7 billion) in the construction of a road linking European transport Corridors X and XI on its territory, infrastructure minister Zorana Mihajlovic has said. The investment in the project, named Vozd Karadjordje, will amount to 1.7 - 2.4 billion euro depending on the length of the part of the road that will be operated as a motorway, Mihajlovic said in a statement on Friday.
Source: SeeNews
Opening of bids for Morava Corridor, today – Works to begin as soon as September
The bids sent within the tendering procedure for the selection of a strategic partner for the construction of the Morava Corridor, the highway from Preljina to Pojate, will be opened this Tuesday, August 27, and the works might begin in September, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction of Serbia, Zorana Mihajlovic, said this Sunday, August 25. The future highway, which will be 112 kilometers long and 30 meters wide, with feature a total of 139 structures, namely, 84 bridges, 26 overpasses and three underpasses, as well as 10 interchanges.
Source: Ekapija
