Sat, Feb 11 2012
NEW companies on the list of the BG-40 index helped it rise on Monday (February 6) for the start of the trading week on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Sofia (BSE).
BG-40, the broader index including the 40-most-traded companies, moved up by 0.3 per cent to 140.17 points, as its new member, Advance Terrafund (a real estate investment trust), increased by 3.01 per cent with more than 20 000 shares changing hands.
Hydraulic Elements & Systems and Alkomet were also on the rise, adding 6.31 per cent and 0.97 per cent on their shares' value, respectively. The Bulgarian Telecommunications Company increased by 1.98 per cent on only 100 of its shares traded.
The biggest decrease in BG-40 was registered by Holding Varna A, which went down by 15.35 per cent. As a whole, holdings did not support the index: only six positions increased, these by less than a single per cent.
Meanwhile, the blue-chip SOFIX index of the 12-most-liquid shares fell by 0.26 per cent to end at 867.35 points.
The previous week, January 30-February 3, saw another 2006 peak for SOFIX at 872.28 points. The target for it is now 900 points, which the index already saw in 2005.
Several companies were excluded from the BG-40 index over the previous week, so others filled in. Pamporovo AD, Bulgarska Roza-Sevtopolis AD, Trakia-Papir AD and DZI Financial Group, as well as the Elana Agricultural Land Opportunity Fund of Sofia, Advance Terrafund REIT of Sofia and Benchmark real estate investment trust, now participate in the composition of the index.
DZI Financial Group was the major driving force behind the movement not only of the BG-40, but also of SOFIX over the week ending February 3.
The stock of DZI Financial Group reached a record-high 91.97 leva on February 1, only to mark a 5.4 per cent decrease on the following day. The market value of DZI increased by 9.75 per cent over the week.
Cosmetics maker Bulgarska Roza-Sevtopolis also marked a 6.4 per cent week on week increase, while Pamporovo AD, operating the winter resort of the same name, lost 8.46 per cent.
Drug maker Sopharma's stock passed the eight-leva mark, closing at 8.10 leva on February 3, to register its highest level in several months.
In the fourth quarter of 2011, the average monthly salary increased to 727 leva, 4.9 per cent higher than in Q3, the National Statistics Institute says.
For the first time in six months, global food prices rose overall in January 2012, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation said.
The package will be discussed with the Association of Bulgarian Banks before the amendments are submitted to Parliament.
Debate at the half-day event will cover what has been achieved so far and what further can be done by the Bulgarian Government to support development of the market.
Selectivity, not popularity, is the driving force behind Sofia's most exclusive members' only club.

Lyubov Kostova was appointed country manager of British Council Bulgaria effective January 1, replacing Tony Buckby, who left in October 2011 to take a similar position at British Council Greece. Kostova has been with British Council Bulgaria for 11 years, as public communications manager and, since 2008, as the head of project and partnerships department. Prior to joining the British Council, Kostova was head of international activities at the National Academy for Theatre and Cinema Arts (NATFIZ). She has a degree in Indian studies from Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Stefan Apostolov is the new chief executive of CEZ Razpredelenie Bulgaria, the power transmission subsidiary of Czech energy company CEZ in the country. He replaces interim chief executive Ales Damm, who remains the chairperson of the CEZ Razpredelenie management board. Apostolov has 30 years of experience in the energy sector, joining CEZ in 2007 as director of customer service and was later appointed as head of business development. Apostolov has a master's degree in electric systems from the Belorussian National Technical University in Minsc, management diplomas from Open University London and New Bulgarian University, as well as a master's degree in business administration from Plovdiv University.

Valentina Dikanska is the new general manager of chemical industry giant BASF subsidiary in Bulgaria, taking over from Herbert Fisch, BASF vice president for Southeastern Europe. Dikanska, who started her career as an expert in the Finance Ministry, joined BASF Bulgaria as director of finance and administration in 2002. She becomes the first Bulgarian to hold the top management position in the company in its 40-year history on the Bulgarian market. Dikanska holds a master's degree in economics from the University for National and World Economy in Sofia.

Alexander Albin has been appointed chief executive of fuel distributor Rompetrol Bulgaria, replacing Nichita Sorin, who left to become chief executive of Rompetrol Gaz in Romania. Albin was previously chief executive of Rompetrol Georgia. He has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry; prior to joining Romania's oil group Rompetrol in 2008 as an adviser, he oversaw operations at Atyrau refinery in Kazakhstan, owned by Rompetrol's parent company KazMunaiGaz. He previously held top management positions at two other leading Kazakh oil and gas companies.