ISI Intellinews

Police have arrested some ### people over the weekend in the country#;s biggest ever anti-drugs operation. Interior minister Ivica Dacic said that over #,### police officers were involved in raids across Serbia , resulting in seizure of more

The representatives of four US firms were expected to arrive in Belgrade , where they should meet PM Mirko Cvetkovic and deputy PM Mladjan Dinkic this week to discuss plans for investments in Serbia , Blic daily reported citing Aleksandar Miloradovic from

Serbia#;s trade deficit stood at EUR #.#bn in Jan-Sep, narrowing by ##% y/y, the latest data from the statistical office showed. The drop in imports (##% y/y to EUR #.##bn) has again outpaced the

Serbia#;s industrial output contracted by  #.#% y/y in September, improving from ##% y/y decline in August, data from the statistics office showed. Heavily weighted manufacturing sector, which has been the main driver of the industrial output

RPI inflation moderated to #% y/y in October, from  #.#% y/y ion September and #.#% y/y in August, the data from the statistical office showed. The deceleration reflects slowdown in the pace of growth of

The government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached a preliminary deal on the country#;s #### budget, but the final assessment of the IMF mission under the review of the stand-by loan hinges on country#;s readiness to

The Health Ministry confirmed that ## people died of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections in the Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, and Lviv regions from Oct ## to Nov #.

President Viktor Yuschenko approved a law on raising social standards the parliament has passed on Oct ##. The head of state thinks that the minimum subsistence level in the country was deliberately understated and had to be revised long time ago.

Ferrexpo Plc, which controls the Poltava ore mining and enrichment plant ( Komsomolsk , Poltava region), decided to pay USD ##.###mn as dividends for the period of H#/##.

The International Finance Corporation said that the existing system of tax administration in Ukraine reduces the competitiveness of small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Forum Bank has redeemed eurobonds for USD ###mn, the financial institution said. The initial issue of three-year eurobonds for USD ###mn was offered in late October #### among investors from Europe , North America and Asia .

The European Commission has proposed to the Council to provide macro-financial assistance to Ukraine , to the tune of up to EUR ###mn. The assistance would support implementation of the adjustment programme agreed by the Ukrainian government with the International

The Fitch international rating agency predicts the GDP decline of ##% y/y and average annual inflation of ##% in ####. According to Fitch, the Ukrainian GDP will grow by #% in #### and the average annual inflation will be ##%.

The Standard&Poor#;s international rating agency has revised to stable from positive the outlook for Ukraine #;s ratings on renewed political uncertainty.

Energy minister Taner Yildiz says that the authorities will announce a final decision on the nuclear power plant tender this month and there will be no further delay.

Turcas Petrol informs that its subsidiary Turcas Elektrik Uretim, an electricity generation company signed an engineering-procurement-construction agreement to establish a ### MW gas powered combined power plant in Denizli with its German partner RWE.

Italy-based energy company Enel did not give a final decision on the partnership with local Delta holding for the construction of geothermal plants in the country yet according to Reuters.

Finance minister Mehmet Simsek asserts that the authorities plan to launch a privatisation tender for the natural gas distribution company Baskent Dogalgaz in the capital Ankara towards the end of this year.

The agreement on the transfer of electricity distribution company Meram Elektrik Dagitim to Alcen Enerji Dagitim was signed on Oct ##. Alsim Alarko won the tender held in September #### for the ###% stake in Meram Elektrik with its USD

Petrochemicals firm Petkim informs that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran #;s NPC International Ltd to start feasibility studies on the establishment of plants in Iran .

National flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) informs that the operator purchased three new Airbus A### model aircraft. The planes will be delivered in #### the company informs.

Dedeman Hotels & Resorts announces that it will acquire the operating rights of two hotels in Iran and Azerbaijan in ####. The hotels located in Shiraz and Baku cities will have a capacity of ### and ### beds respectively.

Media group Dogan Yayin Holding informs in a statement to the Istanbul Stock Exchange that the tax office sent an invitation to group companies Dogan TV Holding, D Yapim, Dogan Produksiyon and Alp Gorsel Iletisim for the settlement of TRY

One of the top Turkish steel makers Erdemir announces that the company posted net loss of TRY ##.#mn (EUR ##mn) in Q# against a TRY ###.#mn net profit in the same period last year.

Durable consumer goods producer Arcelik informs that the company signed a letter of intent with Sony UK to produce Sony brand LCD TVs in its factory. According to the agreement Arcelik will start to produce LCD TVs for international markets

Cement maker Akcansa, a joint venture between local Sabanci Holding and German Heidelberg Cement, posted TRY ##.#mn (EUR ##.#mn) net profit in Q#, representing a ##% y/y decrease.

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed media speculations that during a private conversation with leader of the main opposition party CHP, Deniz Baykal, the PM suggested that early general elections might be possible.

Jailed leader of the terrorist organisation PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, calls on PKK militants not to return to Turkey . Ocalan argues that the government#;s democratic reform initiative is a lie and the government#;s main agenda is to finish off

A survey by polling agency SONAR shows that the public support for the ruling AKP declined to ##.##% in October from ##.#% in September. It is suggested that the decline in support for AKP is linked to the

National flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) informs that the operator purchased three new Airbus A### model aircraft. The planes will be delivered in #### the company informs.

One of the top Turkish steel makers Erdemir announces that the company posted net loss of TRY ##.#mn (EUR ##mn) in Q# against a TRY ###.#mn net profit in the same period last year.

Italy-based energy company Enel did not give a final decision on the partnership with local Delta holding for the construction of geothermal plants in the country yet according to Reuters.

Turcas Petrol informs that its subsidiary Turcas Elektrik Uretim, an electricity generation company signed an engineering-procurement-construction agreement to establish a ### MW gas powered combined power plant in Denizli with its German partner RWE.

Finance minister Mehmet Simsek asserts that the authorities plan to launch a privatisation tender for the natural gas distribution company Baskent Dogalgaz in the capital Ankara towards the end of this year.

The agreement on the transfer of electricity distribution company Meram Elektrik Dagitim to Alcen Enerji Dagitim was signed on Oct ##. Alsim Alarko won the tender held in September #### for the ###% stake in Meram Elektrik with its USD

Petrochemicals firm Petkim informs that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran #;s NPC International Ltd to start feasibility studies on the establishment of plants in Iran .

Exports were up #.##% y/y to USD #.#bn in Oct, according to data of the Turkish Exporters#; Assembly (TIM). The country#;s exports were down a sharp ##.#% y/y to USD #.#bn in Sep.

The Treasury plans a total of TRY ##.#bn (EUR #.#bn) domestic borrowing this month against its domestic debt service of TRY ##bn. Borrowing from the domestic market is projected at TRY ##.#bn while debt redemption to the

Foreign trade deficit contracted ##.#% y/y to USD #.##bn in September, according to data of the statistics institute. Exports were down ##.#% y/y to #.#bn and imports declined by ##.#% y/y to

According to the Bangkok Post, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stated recently that in view of the forthcoming economic developments, Thailand#;s public and private sectors must be ready for new competitions and opportunities in the near future.

According to news agency TNA , Bank of Thailand official Suchart Sakkankosone stated recently that Thailand#;s economy was estimated to have grown by between #.#% and #.#% q/q in Q#/####.

According to news agency CENS , Taiwan#;s central bank is planning to instruct the country#;s banks to change the interest rate structure of their housing loans.

According to the Korea Herald , a recent survey by the Korea Export Insurance Corporation (KEIC) showed that around ##% of the exporters polled expected S Korea#;s economy to recover fully after H#/####.

According to the Korea Herald , figures of the National Statistical Office (NSO) show that S Korea#;s manufacturing output increased by #.#% m/m in September after declining by #.#% m/m in August.

According to the Business Times , the Monetary Authority of Singapore stated in its recent macroeconomic review that Singapore#;s financial services sector was likely to register moderate growth in #### as a result of improved investor confidence and an increase

According to news agency Reuters , figures of the central bank show that Singapore#;s total bank lending increased by #.#% m/m to SGD ###.#bn in September.

According to the Jakarta Post , the Ministry of Manpower stated last Friday that Singapore#;s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to #.#% as of the end of Sep #### from #.#% in June #### and #.#% in

According to the Manila Times , figures of the Bureau of the Treasury show that the debt servicing of the Philippines#; government increased by #.##% y/y to PHP ###.##bn in the first nine months of the year.

According to the Manila Times , Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) President Josef Yap stated recently that it might be difficult for the Philippines government to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) owing to the country#;s poor tax effort

According to the Business Times , President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stated that the Indonesian government would take steps to improve the investment climate by removing bottlenecks and eliminating overlapping regulations.

According to news agency Reuters , official figures show that India#;s wholesale price-based inflation rate increased by #.##% y/y as on Oct ##, registering the fastest rate of increase since May ##.

According to the Financial Express , Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated recently that India should aim for a sustained growth rate of between #% and ##% over the next decade.

According to Hong Kong#;s official website, figures of the Monetary Authority show that the total deposits with Hong Kong#;s authorised institutions increased by #.#% m/m in September.

According to Hong Kong#;s official website, figures of the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau show that in the period April to September, Hong Kong#;s revenue collections amounted to HKD ##.#bn, while government expenditure amounted to HKD

According to news agency Xinhua , the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) last week issued a draft regulation to seek public opinion on its plan to tighten the rules governing personal loans.

According to news agency Xinhua , the Ministry of Commerce stated last Friday that China#;s foreign trade was likely to decline by less than ##% y/y in ####.

According to news agency Xinhua , the People#;s Bank of China (PBOC) stated in its recent macro-economic review that credit demand in China was likely to increase steadily during Q# owing to the requirement of capital for a large

The European Court of First Instance rejected a motion by Slovak chemical company Novacke Chemicke Zavody (NCHZ) to suspend the effectiveness of the EC decision to impose a EUR ##.#mn fine on the company for engaging in cartel activities

Net profit of Vseobechna Uverova Banka (VUB) dipped by ##.#% y/y to EUR ##.#mn for the Q#-Q# period, VUB CEO Ignacio Jaquotot informed. Operating revenues of the bank dropped by #.#% y/y to EUR

Slovenska Sporitelna (SLSP) generated a consolidated net profit of EUR ##mn for the Q#-Q# period, falling sharply by ##% y/y, chairman of the bank#;s board of directors, Stefan Maj, reported.

Aggregate premium revenue of the insurance companies amounted to EUR #.#bn in H#, dropping by #.#% y/y, the Slovak Insurance Association informed. Non-life insurance accounted for the larger ##.#% part of the total revenues.

The annual percentage rate of charge for households loans increased m/m in September, the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) reported. They were up on both the consumer credit and housing loans segment, respectively by ##bps m/m and #bps

The banking sector realized a net profit of EUR ###.#mn for the Jan-Sep period, falling strongly by ##.#% y/y, data of the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) showed.

Gross external debt of Slovakia amounted to USD ##.#bn at the end of July, increasing by #.#% m/m, the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) reported. Rising foreign debt of the central bank explained the total debt growth

As announced by retail operator Seventh Continent, its RAS net profit in Jan-Sep decreased by ##% y/y to RUB ###mn (USD ##.#mn). In Q# retailer#;s net profit plummeted to RUB ##mn from RUB ###mn in Q#.

The RAS net profit of major fertilizer producer Uralkali dropped by ##% y/y to RUB #.#bn (USD ###mn) in Jan-Sep, company announced. In Q#/## alone, Uralkali#;s RAS net profit more than tripled y/y to

The country#;s second largest steel maker Severstal announced that its RAS net profit amounted to RUB #.##bn (USD ###mn) in Jan-Sep, down by ##% y/y. In Q#/## alone, however, company#;s net profit almost doubled

Domestic coal and steel producer Mechel posted RAS net profit of RUB #.##bn in Jan-Sep vs. net profit of RUB ##.#bn for the same period of ####, company reported.

As announced by state development bank VneshEkonomBank (VEB) it prolonged aluminum major RUSAL debt of USD #.#bn by ## months to Oct ## #### . The loan was granted to RUSAL in October ####.

As announced by Russia #;s hydropower holding, RusHydro#;s (formerly known as HydroAGK) RAS net profit more than doubled y/y to RUB ##.##bn (USD ###mn) in Jan-Sep #### vs.

Domestic diamond monopoly Alrosa posted a net RAS loss of RUB #.##bn (USD ###.#mn) in Jan-Sep vs. net profit of RUB #.##bn in Jan-Sep ####. Company#;s RAS net profit in #### stood at RUB

According to Russia#;s energy giant#;s announcement, Gazprom#;s RAS net profit in Jan-Sep went down by ##% y/y to RUB ###bn (USD #.#bn). In Q#/## alone company#;s RAS net profit dropped by ##

Oil pipeline monopoly#;s Transneft net profit under RAS declined by #.#% y/y in Jan-Sep to RUB #.#bn (USD ##.#mn), company reported. Company also announced decreasing its investment program for #### from previous RUB ###bn

As approved by the government, Russia #;s crude oil export duties will decrease as of Nov # by #.##% to USD ###.# per metric ton vs. current USD ###.# per ton.

As announced by CBR , it is going to hold an auction of unsecured loans worth RUB ##bn (USD ###mn) on Nov #. CBR is going to auction five-week loans at a starting rate of ##.##%.

The joint chambers of the Parliament will give the final vote on the nominated PM Lucian Croitoru and his would-be ministers Wednesday, after the expert committees of lawmakers rejected all ## but two of them during preliminary hearings.

The net profit derived by the majority shareholder of BCR Group (Erste Group, nearly ##%) dropped by ##.#% y/y to RON ###.#mn (EUR ###mn) mainly due to higher provisioning cost and fewer commission fees generated amid weaker

The bank analysts are divided over tomorrow#;s decision of the central monetary board summoned in its first meeting after the appointment of the new management team for the central bank.

The government seeks alternative ways to cut the public spending, including by personnel cutdown, as the Constitutional Court delays indefinitely ruling on a bill that would have reduced the payroll in the budgetary sector by ##.#% in Q# by

The interim government works on the final draft of the budget planning for next year in line with the IMF#;s recommendations (mainly #.#%-of-GDP deficit) and seeks way to promote the bill in Parliament in the first

The Qatari government made changes to its investment law to allow expats ###% ownership of companies in three sectors namely; the consultative and technical work services, the information and technology sector, and distribution services, The Peninsula reported.

Treasury minister Aleksander Grad admitted late last week that he was surprised at the European Commission#;s referring Poland #;s law on the so-called golden veto to the European Court of Justice.

The treasury ministry still plans to sell its ##.##% stake in power group Enea to a strategic investor and wants the transaction to take place in ####, according to Treasury Minister Aleksander Grad has said.

The finance ministry is to offer #-year bonds worth PLN #.#-#.#bn of OK#### series on Nov ##, ####, while on Nov,# - road bonds of BGK of IPS#### series, worth PLN #.#-#.#bn, and

The labour market indicator (WRP), which informs in advance about changes in employment volumes and jobless rate, is not rising for a next month in a row.

Due to good results of GDP, the state budget#;s revenue will likely turn out to be higher than assumed this and next year, head of the PM#;s strategic advisers Michal Boni has told the Polska the Times daily

The government is considering suspending the regulations on the so-called safety threshold of ##% in the public debt-to-GDP ratio for two years, the Rzeczpospolita daily reported, quoting unofficial sources.

The treasury ministry plans to raise around PLN ##bn (EUR #.##bn) from privatisation in ####, treasury minister Aleksander Grad has announced, adding that the power and chemical sectors will deliver the bulk of the planned receipts.

The unemployment rate will likely amount to #.#% at the end of #### from the estimated #.#% at the end of last year. In ####, it will reach ##.#% and in #### it will further increase to

Economic growth will likely decelerate to #.#% in #### (vs. #.#% expected in June) and would pick up slightly to #.#% in #### only to speed up more significantly to #.#% in ####, according to the