ISI Intellinews

Serbia , Croatia charge nine people with assassination of Croatian journalist Nine people have been charged in Serbia and Croatia with the murder of Croatian journalist Ivo Pukanic.

Oil monopoly NIS restructures loan portfolio 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.

Banks report EUR ###mn savings increase in Jan-Sep. In the first nine months of the year, depositors placed a total of EUR ###mn in Serbian banks after withdrawing some EUR #bn in the last few months of #### as

Country, IMF agree in general on #% of GDP budget gap for #### The IMF has agreed in general to allow Serbia to run budget deficit at #% of GDP in #### , PM Mirko Cvetkovic and economy minister Mladjan Dinkic announced.

The Serbian unit of Norway #;s mobile operator Telenor recorded RSD #.##bn revenues in Q#, which represented a decline of #.#% y/y, CFO Gabor Kocsis announced.

US Steel Serbia, the country#;s biggest exported has announced it would again halt production in one of its furnaces by the end of the year in order to slash the output amid falling demand for steel products.

The government started negotiating the conditions for the USD#bn loan that Russia agreed to provide to the country. At the meeting of the two countries#; working groups, the sides discussed the provisional deadlines for the repayment of a USD ###mn

Central bank governor Radovan Jelasic voiced concerned over the pace of growth of country#;s public debt, noting that the debt rose by #% in the first eight months of the year.

Finance minister Diana Dragutinovic said that Serbia #;s stand-by arrangement with the IMF would be extended by six months, through end-####, as the country would not need to withdraw the second and the third tranche together.

Global rating agency Fitch affirmed Serbia #;s long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at BB -, with negative outlook. Also, Fitch affirmed the short-term foreign currency IDR at B and the country ceiling at BB -.

Meat production increased by #.#% y/y in September, the State Statistics Committee has informed. In m/m terms, the production of meat in live weight increased by ##.#% to ###,### tonnes.

State rail transport administration Ukrzaliznytsia hopes to raise an UAH #bn loan in ####, a source in Ukrzaliznytsia has told the press. However, the source did not mention which bank would accommodate with the loan.

The Finance Ministry forecasts that the eurobonds of the Naftohaz Ukrainy will be restructured by Nov #, acting FinMin Ihor Umanskyi has said. The acting minister said that at the Thursday meeting that the government endorsed the resolution finally endorsing

VAB Bank begun restructuring private loans, the bank has announced. In particular, VAB Bank is offering the following to borrowers: changing the timetable for paying debts; extending the periods of loans; loan holidays; conversion of foreign-currency loans into hryvnia.

The population#;s debt for housing and utility services shrank by #.#% m/m to UAH #,###.#mn in September, the State Statistics Committee has announced.

Direct foreign debt decreased by #.#% m/m to USD ##,###.#mn as of September ##, the FinMin announced. Direct domestic debt grew by #.#% to UAH ##,###.#mn (USD ##,###.#mn) in September.

The NBU expects GDP decline of ##-##% in ####, acting director of the bank Ihor Shumilo has announced. At the same time, he said that the GDP fall this year can be lower.

Fitch announced that it placed the foreign currency ratings of brewer Anadolu Efes, Coca-Cola Icecek, mobile operator Turkcell and Tupras which produces petroleum and petrochemical products on Rating Watch Positive (RWP).

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan informs that the authorities are close to finalise their assessments for the nuclear power plant tender. Stating that a decision on the issue will be taken soon, Erdogan asserts that he is most likely to visit

Petrochemicals firm Petkim announces that the company posted TRY ##.#mn (EUR ##.#mn) net profit in Q# against a TRY ##.#mn loss in the same period last year.

Local Delta Yatirim Holding announces that the company will jointly invest EUR ###mn in geothermal plants in the country with Italy-based energy company Enel in five years.

The governments of Turkey and Iran signed a natural gas cooperation agreement. Under the agreement Iran will allocate some of its South Pars natural gas fields to the state-run Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO).

Local low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines informs that the operator will launch an IPO for a ##% to ##% stake of the company in Q# ####. Chairman of the operator, Ali Sabanci, states that the company will use the proceeds

Durable consumer goods producer Arcelik informs in a filing with the Istanbul Stock Exchange that three individual shareholders of the company opened a legal case at a court against the merger with Grundig.

Deva Holding informs that it obtained a #-year USD ##mn loan from local lender Is Bankasi. In the statement issued to the Istanbul Stock Exchange Deva Holding details that the annual interest rate of the loan is #%.

Renault targets to sell annually ##,### units of Fluence model electric vehicles in local market, according to financial daily Referans . Stephen Norman, senior vice president for Renault#;s global marketing, says that the company will make an official announcement

As part of the government#;s efforts to improve ties with neighbouring countries and to seek support for the Kurdish initiative, foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu will travel to northern Iraq today (Oct ##).

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan and chief of general staff Gen. Ilker Basbug yesterday (Oct ##) discussed the alleged anti-government plot during their regular weekly meeting.

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan informs that the authorities are close to finalise their assessments for the nuclear power plant tender. Stating that a decision on the issue will be taken soon, Erdogan asserts that he is most likely to visit

Petrochemicals firm Petkim announces that the company posted TRY ##.#mn (EUR ##.#mn) net profit in Q# against a TRY ##.#mn loss in the same period last year.

Local Delta Yatirim Holding announces that the company will jointly invest EUR ###mn in geothermal plants in the country with Italy-based energy company Enel in five years.

Local low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines informs that the operator will launch an IPO for a ##% to ##% stake of the company in Q# ####. Chairman of the operator, Ali Sabanci, states that the company will use the proceeds

The governments of Turkey and Iran signed a natural gas cooperation agreement. Under the agreement Iran will allocate some of its South Pars natural gas fields to the state-run Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO).

According to Intellasia , the National Assembly Finance and Budget Committee (FBC) has suggested that Vietnam#;s government should restrict its budget deficit to #% of the GDP in #### since a large deficit would create inflation risks.

According to news agency TNA , figures of the Bank of Thailand (BoT) show that as of the end of Q#/####, the non-performing loans (NPLs) of Thailand#;s domestic banks stood at THB ###bn or #.#% of the

According to news agency TNA , a recent survey by Krung Thai Bank (KTB) showed that Thailand#;s business confidence index improved to ##.## in Q# from ##.## in Q#, registering the highest reading since Q#/####.

According to the Chosun Ilbo , the Federation of Korean Industries stated in a recent report that a ##% appreciation of the Won against the US Dollar would cause a #.##% increase in export costs, resulting in substantial loss of

According to the Korea Herald , officials of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy stated recently that S Korea#;s government was likely to restructure the system of supporting research and development (R&D) projects.

According to the Korea Herald , OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria stated recently that owing to the government#;s fiscal measures, S Korea#;s economic recovery had been one of the earliest and strongest recoveries in the OECD.

According to the Korea Times , the Bank of Korea stated on Thursday that the country#;s business confidence had improved significantly, with the index of conditions in the manufacturing sector rising to ## in October from ## in September.

According to the Manila Times , BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr stated recently that the proposal to introduce a multi-currency reserve system was more realistic than replacing the US Dollar by another reserve currency.

According to news agency Bernama , a recent report by the UN said that Malaysia#;s exports were likely to grow by #.##% in #### against a contraction of ##.#% in ####.

According to Antara News , National Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) official Achmad Kurniadi stated on Wednesday that Indonesia was planning to launch a one-stop service system to minimise the difficulties in obtaining investment licences.

According to the Business Standard , Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor D Subbarao stated recently that the aim of the RBI was to ensure price and financial stability and to support economic growth.

According to news agency PTI , Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar stated recently that India#;s exports declined by ##.#% y/y to USD ##.#bn in the first half of fiscal year ####-## (April to March).

According to a new agency Reuters, the Hong Kong government announced on Thursday that it would extend till the end of June the duration of its USD ##.#bn loan guarantee scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

According to news agency Reuters, the official Shanghai Securities News reported on Thursday that China#;s mutual funds industry registered a loss of CNY ##.##bn in Q#/#### after showing a record profit of CNY ###bn in Q#/####.

According to news agency Xinhua , a recent report of the State Council said that as of August, China#;s central government had invested CNY ###bn in the country#;s major public projects against a total investment of CNY ###bn in ####.

According to the China Daily , World Bank economist Louis Kuijs stated recently that China#;s stimulus package had succeeded in boosting infrastructure investment and in improving consumer confidence.

Parliament rejects no-confidence vote in construction minister The parliament expectedly voted down an opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion against the construction minister Ivan Stefanov.

Cabinet approves law on strategic companies 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.

Finance ministry dissatisfied with bank interest margins 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.

Current account deficit shrinks by ##.#% y/y in Jan-Aug The deficit of the current account reached EUR #.#bn in Jan-Aug, falling by ##.#% y/y , the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) reported.

The parliament expectedly voted down an opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion against the construction minister Ivan Stefanov. Its decision was not surprising, taking into account that the government backed the minister and all ruling coalition parties underlined that they would

The EC sent a reasoned opinion to Slovakia , urging the country to implement the EC decision for the liberalisation of the hybrid mail market, EC competition commissioner Neelie Kroes announced.

The three major state-owned railway operators all posted losses for the Q#-Q# period, reports from the individual companies revealed. Passenger railway transport company ZSSK Slovensko was in the red by EUR ##.#mn but it underlined that the

Mobile services provider Orange Slovensko posted EUR ###.#mn of revenues in the Q#-Q# period, down by # .#% y/y, the company spokesman Richard Fides reported.

New net investments in mutual funds amounted to EUR ##.#mn in September, according to data from the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS). Volume of new capital in the sector was relatively stable, falling slightly by #.#% m/m.

The surplus on foreign tourism services declined by ##.#% y/y to EUR ###.#mn for the Jan-Aug period, the economy ministry reported. Revenues from foreign tourism was barely up by #.#% y/y for the period.

FAS fines Rosneft for RUB #.##bn     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#/##.

RTS index up by #.##% w/w to ####.##pts during Oct ##-##   RTS index increased by #.##% w/w to ####.##pts during a trading week of Oct ##-##, after going up by #

CBR #;s Fx/gold reserves up by USD #.#bn w/w to USD ###.#bn during Oct ##-## CBR #;s Fx/gold reserves went up by USD #.#bn (#.#% w/w) to USD ###.#bn during

Air carrier Aeroflot reported its net profit under IFRS decreasing by ##% y/y to USD ##.#mn in H#. Company attributed the decrease to lower consumers#; purchasing power and cooling business activity.

Aggregate RAS net profit of the # regional subsidiaries of national telecom holding Svyazinvest amounted to RUB ##.#bn (USD ###mn) in Jan-Sep, inching up by #.#% y/y.

Country#;s largest zinc producer Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant reported IFRS net loss of RUB ###mn (USD #.##mn) in H# vs. net loss of RUB ###mn in H# ####. The loss was attributed to decreasing zinc prices, revaluation of reserves

In Jan-Sep steel producer#;s Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) net profit under RAS more than halved y/y to RUB ##bn (USD ###mn) vs. net profit of RUB ##bn for the same period last year.

The RAS calculated net profit of Russia #;s oil major Lukoil decreased by ##% y/y to RUB ##.#bn (USD #.##bn) in Jan-Sep, company said. In Q# alone, company#;s RAS net profit dropped by ##% q

Major oil company Rosneft reported RAS net profit decreased by ##.#% y/y to RUB ###.#bn (USD #bn) in Jan-Sep. In Q#/## alone, company posted RAS net profit of RUB ##bn, down by ##% q/q

According to the announcement by CBR , it is planned to hold # auctions of unsecured loans in November. Preliminary schedule shows that CBR is going to propose five-week loans on Nov #, Oct ##, and Oct ##.

As announced by FinMin, it is going to hold a three-month deposit auction of federal budget funds worth up to RUB ##bn (USD #.##bn) on Nov #. Starting annual deposit rate for the auction will amount to #

As announced by CBR , it approved lowering the refinancing rate to record-low #.#% as of Oct ## from previous ##% set as of Sep ##. Notably, this makes an eight cut of the rate in the past five

CBR#;s Fx/gold reserves went up by USD #.#bn (#.#% w/w) to USD ###.#bn during the week of Oct ##-##. As of Oct ## reserves decreased by ##% y/y vs. the Oct ##

Parliament#;s expert committees reject most of the would-be ministers of nominated PM Lucian Croitoru Only two of the ## would-be ministers proposed by the nominated PM Lucian Croitoru received positive recommendations from the Parliament#;s expert teams.

Central bank dismisses speculations on foreign banks trimming down exposure The central bank has not discussed about foreign banks#; trimming down their exposure to the Romanian market, advisor to the bank#;s governor, Adrian Vasilescu, stressed in order to dismiss

IMF team starts second quarterly review of SBA 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

Crin Antonescu, the leader of the third largest party PNL (centre-right, opposition), accused the minority ruling party PDL of having signed an inappropriate agreement with the IMF and added that PNL disagrees with several stipulations of the key bills

The share of bad (loss- and doubtful-type) loans increased to ##.#% of the banks#; total exposure, not adjusted for collaterals, at the end of August, from ##.#% one month earlier and #.#% one year earlier, according

The average stock of financing extended by the monetary authority to commercial banks under open-market operations (mainly repo-type) diminished to EUR #bn in September from EUR #.#bn in August and EUR ##.#bn in July.

IMF, EC and WB insists on disbursing further tranches of the EUR ##bn aggregate financial package only after Romania endorses an appropriate financial plan for next year , as well as the public wage bill and a revised public pension system

The country#;s GDP will rise by #% and #% respectively in #### and ####, recovering most of the ground lost after the #.#% decline this year, according to the projection of rating agency Fitch included in its report

Qatargas awarded GE Oil & Gas PII Pipeline Solutions a six-year contract to supply its Operating Company Limited with advanced pipeline integrity management services to enhance the monitoring and maintenance of the company#;s liquid natural gas (LNG) network

PM Tusk still leads in polls ahead of presidential elections 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

Energy watchdog asks vendors to lower price hikes in tariff motions The Energy Regulatory Office (URE) has asked electricity vendors to lower their proposed price hikes in the tariff motions .

Share of non-performing loans rises by #.#pps to #.#% at end-Sep The share of non-performing loans rose by #.#pps in a quarter to #.#% at the end of September , the Rzeczpospolita and Parkiet

Stats office GUS sees Q#/#### GDP not lower than Q##;s #.#% y/y Currently available macroeconomic data allow to expect that the Q#/#### GDP growth will not be lower than #.#% y/y posted in