ISI Intellinews

The Netherlands still strongly opposes the unblocking of the trade-related part of a pre-accession deal with Serbia , local media reported. Dutch foreign minister Maxim Verhagen reiterated his country would continue blocking Serbia #;s further EU path if the

Member of the European Parliament Doris Pack said that Serbia would not be able to become EU member until the issue of Kosovo was resolved. Pack noted that Serbia should change its policies towards Kosovo if it wanted to resume

Economy minister Mladjan Dinkic reopened methanol and acetic acid complex MSK Kikinda, now majority owned by gas monopoly Srbijagas. The complex restarted the production after a ##-month halt caused by lack of raw material and machinery upgrade.

Fiat Automobili Srbija, the joint venture of Italy#;s car maker Fiat and the state, is due to finally take over the assets of local car producer Zastava Automobili after the two parties sign annex to their last year#;s

Oil monopoly Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), majority owned by Russian Gazprom, has completed loan portfolio restructuring, thus increasing the repayment period of loans and lowering interest rates, the oil company said.

Serbia#;s exports have started growing again in September after sharp drops recorded earlier in the year, the head of the Serbian Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA), Vesna Peric, said.

The National Bank of Serbia #;s (NBS) Monetary Board decided to keep the key interest rate unchanged at ##%, the central bank said without providing additional explanations.

A gap between BYuT leader Yulia Tymoshenko and Party of Regions Viktor Yanukovych makes a little over #%, shows the national monthly survey Omnibus conducted by TNS in Ukraine , in October ####, the company press-service has reported.

The Moody#;s Investors Service withdrew Caa# corporate rating of the Zaporizhstal metallurgical mill by business reasons, the agency reported. Moodys downgraded Zaporizhstals rating to Caa# from B# on Oct ##, #### based on company#;s lacklustre financial performance and

The Finance Ministry expects the Naftohaz Ukrainy national oil and gas company to import natural gas to the tune of USD ###mn in October. According to acting FinMin Ihor Umanskyi, Naftohaz Ukrainy would pay for gas imports in full and

Demand for mortgage loans has currently declined by ##% y/y, director of BGT consulting Dmitry Bityukov has said. According to Bityukov, in order to receive loans for buying property, it#;s necessary to submit an initial contribution of ##

The assets volume of the banking system dropped by UAH ##.#bn since the beginning of the start and as of Oct # it made up UAH ###.#bn. This drop took place mainly due to reduction in the volumes

Moody#;s Investors Service, an international credit-rating agency, has said that the risks in the Ukrainian banking system have increased because borrowers are having difficulty servicing their bank loans.

PM Yulia Tymoshenko forecasts that the volumes of industrial production existing before the beginning of the financial-economic crisis will be renewed following Q#/####.

According to Intellasia , the National Assembly is currently discussing a proposal to fix the target for Vietnam#;s per-capita GDP for #### at USD #,###, a y/y growth of ##.#%.

According to the Bangkok Post , Ministry of Finance spokesperson Ekniti Nitithanprapas stated recently that Thailand#;s GDP was likely to have grown by around #% q/q and contracted by between #.#% and #% y/y in Q#.

According to the Taipei Times, a recent survey conducted by the Research Centre for Taiwan Economic Development at the National Central University showed that Taiwan#;s consumer confidence index (CCI) improved by #.## points m/m to ##.##

According to news agency CENS , figures of the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) show that Taiwan#;s unemployment rate declined by #.##pps m/m to #.##% in September.

According to the Taipei Times , the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) stated on Wednesday that Taiwan#;s index of leading indicators increased by #.#% m/m to ### points in September.

According to news agency Reuters , figures released by the Bank of Korea (BOK) on Wednesday show that S Korea#;s current-account registered a seasonally adjusted surplus of USD #.##bn in September, up from USD #.##bn in August.

According to the Manila Times , figures of the Department of Finance show that state subsidies to the Philippines#; non-financial government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) increased by ##% y/y to PHP ##.##bn in the first nine months

According to the Manila Times , Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr stated recently that the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of the Philippines#; banking industry increased to #.#% in August from #% in June.

According to the Manila Times , Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr stated recently that the BSP expected the country#;s inflation rate for October to come in at between #.#% and #.#% compared to #

According to the website of the Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the Monetary Policy Committee on Wednesday decided to leave the overnight policy rate unchanged at #%.

According to the Jakarta Post , Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu stated recently that the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) Free-Trade Area (FTA) would become operational by January ####.

According to the Financial Express , the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stated in a recent report that inflationary pressures were likely to increase as a result of the fading away of the base effect.

According to news agency Reuters , Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Shyamala Gopinath stated on Wednesday that the RBI was faced with the challenge of reviving private credit demand.

According to The Economic Times , figures of the Commerce and Industry Ministry show that the output of India#;s six core industries grew by #% in September and #% in the first half of fiscal year ####-## (April to March).

According to Hong Kong#;s official website, figures of the Tourism Board show that Hong Kong#;s visitor arrivals increased by #.#% y/y to #,###,### in September.

According to news agency Reuters , the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated on Tuesday that China#;s industrial production was likely to grow by ##% y/y in Q# compared to ##.#% y/y in Q#.

According to the People#;s Daily Online , figures of the Ministry of Commerce show that China#;s overseas investment in the non-financial sectors, including mining and manufacturing, increased by ###.#% y/y to USD ##.#bn during Q#/####.

President Ivan Gasparovic appointed Jozef Medved as the new environment minister. Till now, the post was temporarily occupied by vice president Dusan Caplovic after PM Robert Fico had dismissed the previous minister Viliam Tursky over accusations of corrupt tender practices

The national toll collection system should become operational from the beginning of #### as originally planned, transport minister Lubomir Vazny stated.

The government passed a draft bill on strategic companies, economy minister Lubomir Jahnatek announced. Large companies with more than ### employees and especially energy companies could be considered as strategic.

The finance ministry issued a warning to the banking system, stating that interest margins were excessively high, state secretary of the finance ministry, Peter Kazimir, declared after a session of the Price Council.

The index of economic sentiment  declined by ##.#pts y/y in October, the statistical office (SUSR) reported. All of its subcomponents worsened in y/y terms with the exception of the industry, which improved by #pts y/y, underlining

PPI for the industry dropped by #.#% y/y in  September, deepening a downward trend since the beginning of the year, data of the statistical office (SUSR) showed.

The deficit of the current account reached EUR #.#bn in Jan-Aug, falling by ##.#% y/y, the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) reported. All components of the current account with the exception of the net services balance

Fertilizer producer#;s Acron RAS net profit in Jan-Sep increased by ##% y/y to RUB ##bn (USD ###mn), company reported. Acron noted that net profit incorporates the re-evaluation of its long-term financial investments, excluding which the

As announced by oil company Slavneft, its RAS net profit in Jan-Sep amounted to RUB #.##bn (USD ###.#mn), inching up by #% y/y. In H#/## company posted a net loss of RUB ###mn.

According to the banking sources and sources in the company, Russia #;s oil major Lukoil is preparing an issue of Eurobonds worth USD #bn-USD #.#bn. Two issues of #-year and ##-year bonds are planned, with the

Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) fined Russia #;s oil major Rosneft for RUB #.##bn (USD ###mn) for abusing its dominant market position on the wholesale oil products market in H#/##.

Only two would-be ministers of cabinet formed by nominated PM Lucian Croitoru received the positive vote of the Parliament#;s expert committees after six candidates passed the hearing procedures.

LukOil Romania , the local subsidiary of the Russian oil company, reported USD ##mn of losses for Jan-Sep as the sales plunged by ##% y/y to USD ###mn.

The Belgian real estate developer Liebrecht & wooD unveiled three deals operated this year under which it purchased ##ha of land on the outskirts of Bucharest for more than EUR ##mn.

The losses caused to banks by non-performing loans might reach RON ##bn (EUR ##bn) in Romania , which is #% of GDP, according to a projection of the World Bank based on the experience of other emerging markets.

Farmers have demonstrated in Bucharest for receiving immediately the direct per capita payments for cows and sheep, which are covered from the national budget.

The IMF expert team arrived in Bucharest for the second quarterly review of the two-year stand-by agreement (SBA), followed by representatives of the WB and EC that also contribute to the EUR ##bn multilateral financing package to Romania.

PM Donald Tusk would receive ##% of votes in the presidential elections, which are due next year, according to the Oct ##-## survey by the pollster GfK Polonia, commissioned by the Rzeczpospolita daily.

State-held pharmaceutical holding PHF plans to complete the privatisation of pharmaceuticals producer Polfa Warszawa by the end of H#/####, the CEO of PHF Artur Wozniak has said.

Incumbent landline telecom TP SA#;s revenue in the mobile telephony sector amounted to PLN #,###bn in Q#-#/####, which stands for a fall of #.#% vs. the same period a year ago, the company#;s quarterly

Incumbent landline telecom TP SA expects that the improvement of the telecommunications market will come in H#/#### at the earliest, the company#;s CEO Maciej Witucki has announced.

Fortis Bank Polska plans layoffs, which could embrace ### people in the whole bank and will start in Q#/#### this year and will end by Q#/####. The staff reduction is the effect of the merger with Dominet Bank

The Consumer Optimism Indicator (WOK) fell by #.##pts to ##.##pts in October (on a scale of #-###), the market and public opinion research agency Ipsos has reported.

The current consumer sentiment indicator fell to -##.#pts in Oct,#### from -##.#pts a month earlier and -##.#pts a year earlier, according to a survey carried out by the Central Statistical Office (GUS) and the National Bank

The World Bank has raised its forecasts for Poland #;s economic expansion - to #.#% in #### (from a contraction of #.#% expected in May) and to #.#% in #### (from #.#%), the WB said in its

Poland#;s economic growth has accelerated to #.#-#.#% y/y in Q#/#### from #.#% in Q# and #.#% in Q#, deems governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP) Slawomir Skrzypek.

The Monetary Policy Council (RPP) on Wednesday kept (as expected) interest rates flat, at #.##% in the case of the key market intervention rate and (also in line with expectations) changed its informal policy bias to neutral from easing.

The local Islamic orgnisation started issuing certificates to food and pharmaceuticals manufacturers for compliance with the Islamic halal standards for food consumption, local media reported.

Macedonian insurance company Sigma Osiguruvanje has changed its name to Winner. Sigma, which was established back in ####, was acquired by Austrian insurer Wiener Staedtische, part of Vienna Insurance Group, for MKD ###.#mn (EUR #mn) earlier this year after

Power producer Elektrani na Makedonija (ELEM) will invest EUR ##mn for the upgrade of its biggest hydropower station Vrutok in Gostivar, western Macedonia , over the next # years.

The value of credit card transactions grew #.#% m/m to EUR ###mn in September after several months of decrease, data from the central bank showed. The number of transactions stood at #.#mn.

The finance ministry is putting up for auction on November # six-month T-bills with a euro foreign exchange clause worth EUR ##.##mn and interest of #.#%, the finance ministry announced.

The privatisation office called a tender for appointment of advisors to consult the forthcoming privatisation of national flag carrier Montenegro Airlines and the maritime shipping company Barska Plovidba.

The power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) announced that the tender for purchase of required electricity to close the energy balance for the next year attracted ## participants.

The negative trend of the bank asset dynamics continued in August and lenders reported ##.#% decline over the year at the end of the month to EUR #.##bn, figures released by the central bank (CBCG) revealed.

Lithuanian mobile operator, part of TeliaSonera group, Omnitel recorded LTL ###mn (EUR ###.#mn) revenues in Jan-Sep period, down by ##% y/y. In Q# the company#;s revenues amounted to LTL ###mn, which is a ##% y/y decline.

Lithuanian city Kaunas broadband quality ranks # rd in the world following only Japanese cities Yokohama and Nagoya . The study has been performed by Oxford Said business school and Ovied university.

Lithuanian banks recorded consolidated net loss of LTL #.#bn (EUR #.#bn) in Jan-Sep period, Bank of Lithuania announced. In Jan-Sep #### period the banks recorded net profit of LTL #.#bn.

M# declined by #.#% y/y and #.#bn m/m to amount to LTL ##.#bn (EUR ##.#bn) as of end-Sep, Bank of Lithuania announced. M# declined by #.#% y/y and LTL #.#bn

According to the report by Central Statistical Bureau the volume of cargo reloaded by Latvian ports decreased by #.#% y/y to ##.#mn tons in Jan-Sep (to compare, #.#% y/y and #.#% y/y

As announced by Riga Airport #;s public relations department, in Jan-Sep #### airport served #.##mn passengers, which made a #.#% y/y increase. Latvian companies in nine months of #### (airBaltic) served #.##mn passengers, which was

As announced by bank#;s representatives, Nordea Bank#;s Latvian branch posted net loss of LVL ##.#mn (EUR ##.#mn) in Jan-Sep ####. No comparison was provided, but according to last year#;s reports Nordea#;s net profit

According to the preliminary data by State Treasury, general state budget (government central and special budget, municipal central and special budgets and social security funds) posted a deficit of LVL ###.#mn (EUR ###.#mn) in the first nine months

Estonian ferries operator sold its high speed vessel Tallink Autoexpress # to Venezuelan company Consolidada de Ferrys. The price remains undisclosed under mutual agreement.

Estonian fashion retailer Baltika recorded EEK ###mn (EUR ##.#mn), down by ##% y/y in Q#, the company recorded via Tallinn Stock Exchange. Retail sales of the company in Q# amounted to EEK ###mn, which indicates decline of ##%

Scandinavian banking group Nordea has recorded EEK ##mn (EUR #.#mn) net profit in Estonia in Jan-Sep period. The bank has recorded EEK #mn profit in Q#.

Kazakhstan has presently no gas to join Nabucco, Meyram Kanapyanov high-ranking official of the Kazakh Ministry of Energy said. He explained that "limited number of available resources is the main problem for Kazakhstan and presently several large projects that

Kazakhstan plans to spend USD ##mn on subsiding export shipments of grain to Baltic and Black Sea ports, agriculture minister Akylbek Kuribashev stated.

Gas major BG suspended legal proceedings against Kazakh government over USD #bn in export duties, the company was forced to pay. BT stated that it hoped to settle the issue through negotiation.

Eurasian Development Bank plans to issue RUR #bn #-year bonds on Nov #. The coupon rate will amount between ##.# and ##%. The bonds are expected to be offered publicly in RUR #,### denominations on the Moscow

Kazakhstan seeks arrest of key shareholders of Alliance Bank. Kazakh financial police accused the key shareholders of stealing USD ###mn from Alliance .

Uganda has suspended the construction of the national backbone fibre cable after intervention of parliament, which accused the ICT ministry of inflating the costs, according to the East African.

Reuters reported Standard Bank Plc, a unit of South Africa #;s Standard Bank Group, has signed a USD #bn Euro Commercial Paper programme as liquidity eases up in short-term markets.

According to Reuters, Aquarius Platinum Ltd posted a Q# USD #.#mn net profit due to more stable metals prices despite lower production after a mine closure and strikes.

Business Day reported Silverbridge Holdings has boosted its revenues ##% and profits ###% for H# ## August ####. The group, which provides software and consulting services to the financial services sector, increased its revenue to ZAR ##.##mn compared with

South Africa #;s Harmony Gold Mining Co said on Monday two workers died at its Target mine in the country#;s Free State province after a rock fall. Reuters reported the company did not know how many other employees had