ZAGREB, 28 April, 2021 - The main Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) indices declined on Wednesday amid modest trading, with the Crobex dropping by 0.71% to 1,886 points and the Crobex10 decreasing by 0.35% to 1,173 points.

With regard to sectoral indices, only the food index saw an increase, of 0.02%, while the construction index saw the biggest decline, of 3.55%.

Today's regular turnover amounted to HRK 3.7 million, about HRK 100,000 more than on Tuesday. The preferred share of the Adris tourism and insurance company generated another HRK 2.05 million in block trading, closing at HRK 407 per share.

The Podavka food company generated the highest turnover in regular trading, slightly over HRK 2 million. The price of its shares went up by 0.73% to HRK 554 per share.

Shares of telecommunications equipment manufacturer Ericsson Nikola Tesla generated a turnover HRK 1.16 million, closing at HRK 1,650 per share, down 0.6%.

A total of 35 stocks traded today, with seven of them recording share price increases, 20 registering share price decreases and eight remaining stable in price.

(€1 = 7.566274)

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ZAGREB, 27 April, 2021 - The Crobex index of the Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) went up on Tuesday for the fourth trading day in a row, closing above 1,900 points for the first time since February 2020, while trading remained modest.

The Crobex increased by 0.27% to 1,900.52 points, while the Crobex10 slipped by 0.03% to 1,177.83 points.

Today's regular turnover was HRK 3.6 million, which is about HRK 600,000 less than on Monday.

The only stock to cross the one million kuna turnover mark was the Atlantska Plovidba shipping company with a turnover of HRK 1.35 million. Its price went up for the seventh consecutive day, today by 3.56%, to HRK 262 per share.

A total of 50 stocks traded today, with 19 of them recording share price increases, 15 registering price decreases and 16 remaining stable in price.

(€1 = 7.567140)

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ZAGREB, 23 April, 2021 - The main Zagreb Stock Exchange indices increased mildly on Friday with the Crobex increasing by 0.20% to 1,887.11 points and the Crobex10 closing at 1,173.79 points, up 0.1%.

Indices closed the week in different directions, and the Crobex was up 0.45% while the Crobex10 was 0.22% weaker on the week.

Regular turnover on Friday amounted to HRK 6.5 million which is about two million less than on Thursday.

The only stock to cross the million kuna mark was the Atlantska Plovidba shipping company with a turnover of HRK 1.6 million. Its shares increased by 3.83% to HRK 244. This is the fifth day in a row for its shares to increase and they recorded a significant increase of 28.42% on the week.

Forty-one stocks traded today, the prices of 18 of them fell, 15 increased in price and for eight the price remained the same.

(€1 = HRK 7.572279)

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ZAGREB, 23 April, 2021 - The Croatian Telecom (HT) telecommunications company's General Assembly on Friday decided that it would pay its shareholders a dividend of HRK 8 per share of its 2020 profit.

The assembly determined that HT generated a net profit of  HRK 703.8 million in 2020 and that of that amount HRK 641.9 million shall be paid out as dividend to shareholders, in the amount of HRK 8.00 per share.

Part of the net profit or HRK 61.9 million shall be allocated as retained earnings.

The dividend will be paid out to all shareholders that are registered at the Central Depository & Clearing Company (SKDD) on 6 May 2021.

The dividend will be paid on 17 May 2021.

(€1 = HRK 7.572279)

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April 23, 2021 - Data analyzed by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics saw Croatian Employment in March 2021 rise compared to February but is overall lower than last year.

Employment in Croatia is overall down for 1.5% - concludes an article in Slobodna Dalmacija. This is the result of a statistical analysis conducted for this year's March compared to March 2020. The biggest fall in employment is evident in the hotel industry and hospitality. Last March, 410 people were employed in the sector, adding to the total number of 61,913, but that number is smaller for 5,087 people compared to last year when the number of employed in hotel tourism and hospitality counted 67,000.

„Compared to February, the total number of employed (in March) is up by 0.8% but compared to the same month last year; the numbers are down by 1.5%“, Slobodna Dalmacija quoted the explanation of Croatian Bureau of Statistics.

The process manufacturing industry also counts losses. Despite 2,129 newly employed people who boosted 225,287 workers in the sector, that number is down by 2000 workers less as last year the count was 227,287.  

Merchants count a rise of 803 new workers, 201,117 in total. But, this time last year the total number was 205,167, so this year's there are 4,050 people less in the sector.

On the other hand, several sectors can celebrate victory over statistics from 2020.

The construction sector hired 1,060 new workers. 100,234 people in total this year gives a 5924 boost compared to last year's 195,193 employed people.

Education has 1,094 new workers this month, 120,246 in total. This time last year's there were 117,891 people in total, which suggest 2,355 people increase.

Public service, social security, and defense sectors increase by 648 people to a total of 111,785. In conclusion, 1,325 more people are welcomed to the sector, compared to 2020 when there was 110460 in the mentioned sectors.  

Expectedly, health and social care sectors in March counted 102,636 employed, which is a 1,392 increase compared to last year's 101,244 employed people.

In absolute numbers, the mentioned sectors had the biggest influence on the total rise of employment in Croatia last month, which jumped to 11,302 people, 1,518,034 in total.

 The Bureau added that when counting all minuses and pluses, last year's numbers are better, but the progress is happening in this year nonetheless.  

Additionally, the average salary in Croatia is  7038 kuna, pointed out Slobodna Dalmacija.

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ZAGREB, 22 April, 2021 - As a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic and earthquakes real GDP in the first half of 2020 contracted by 7.8% year-on-year, due to a drop in personal consumption, investments and exports, while government spending rose mildly, Croatian National Bank Governor Boris Vujčić said on Thursday.

Vujčić said this in parliament while presenting the Croatian National Bank's (HNB) annual report on the financial situation and price and monetary policy stability in the first half of 2020.

He recalled that in the first half of 2020 a strong contraction of the global economy was recorded due to the spread of coronavirus and the introduction of restrictions. He added that the fall in real GDP in developed countries was the most pronounced during the peak of the spring pandemic wave.

Personal consumption contracted by 6.8% on the year, reflecting a decrease in available income due to negative trends on the labour market, a fall in the consumption of services whose provision of limited due to epidemiological restrictions as well as citizens' being less inclined to spend due to the need for physical distancing to avoid the risk of being infected and a decrease in consumer optimism. Those trends were also reflected in the lower indebtedness of the population, said Vujčić.

The annual inflation rate slowed down from 1.4% in December 2019 to -0.2% in June 2020 under the impact of the decreased prices of oil products, caused by the fall in global demand. The spread of the pandemic led to a decrease in inflationary pressure overall, notably in services related to tourism due to a significant drop in the number of passengers, and in durable consumer goods, due to a drop in investments. Basic inflation slowed down mildly from 1.2% in December 2019 to 1.1% in June 2020, which was mostly due to a drop in annual rates for individual food products and catering and accommodation services.

The contraction of economic activity due to the pandemic resulted in the import of goods falling at a significantly greater rate than exports, and the current and capital accounts in the first half of 2020 recorded a decrease in the deficit compared to the same period in 2019. On the other hand, the current and capital accounts were adversely affected by a significant drop in the net export of services, notably due to the situation in tourism.

HNB promptly adapted its monetary policies, using all the available measures with the aim of preserving the stability of the exchange rate and favourable conditions to finance citizens, the corporate sector and the state, said Vujčić. HNB sold a total of €2.7 billion to banks after which the kuna exchange rate was stabilised, he said.

Thanks to this and other measures kuna liquidity reached record levels and the state and private sector were able to continue taking loans with domestic banks under virtually the same terms as before the crisis, however, the weaker economic activity and demand for loans resulted in stricter terms to approve loans as a result of which consumer lending slowed down.

The budget deficit of HRK 13.2 billion in the first half of 2020 reflects the negative impact of the crisis caused by the pandemic on the economy and budget revenue. Temporary measures designed to relieve the consequences of the pandemic, such as the writing off of tax obligations and job-keeping support measures, also contributed to the fall in revenue. This is particularly obvious in the second quarter, when the deficit amounted to almost HRK 10 billion, HNB's report notes.

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ZAGREB, 22 April (Hina) - Diplomatic representatives of Croatia and Israel met with local cantonal authorities in Široki Brijeg in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday to discuss joint economic projects for which Croatia has earmarked funds this year.

Non-resident Israeli Ambassador Noah Gal Gendler said after the meeting with government representatives and businessmen that he was exceptionally pleased with the talks.

"The objective is to exchange ideas and after that to include the private sector because they know how to very quickly recognise potential. As the state of Israel, as the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as cantons and naturally as the Republic of Croatia, we will support those efforts," said the ambassador. He expressed satisfaction that Israel will help the development of this area by sharing its knowledge and experience.

Diplomatic advisor in the Croatian Embassy in BiH Mladen Glavina underscored that this is about connecting business people and exchanging ideas between the three countries.

"Our aim is long term, to achieve in the next few years as many contacts as possible between business people on the three sides," said Glavina. This all started last year with contacts between the foreign ministries of Croatia and Israel and is continuing today, with concrete cooperation to follow, said Glavina, announcing that the Croatian government will assist in this trilateral cooperation and that certain funds have been allocated for it.

West Herzegovina Canton Prime Minister Zdenko Ćosić said that together with businessmen he would visit Israel in an effort to make way for their cooperation.

Representatives of Croatia and Israel visited three cantons in BiH that border with Croatia over the past three days in an effort to motivate economic cooperation between the three countries.

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ZAGREB, 22 April, 2021 - The main Zagreb Stock Exchange indices gained on Thursday, the Crobex by 0.30% to 1,883.42 points and the Crobex10 by 0.16% to 1,173.71 points, while regular turnover was HRK 8.5 million, twice as much as on Wednesday.

The most traded stock was Končar - Electrical Industry, turning over HRK 1.7 million. The price of its share was stable at HRK 685.

Forty-three stocks traded today, with 20 going up in price, nine going down and 14 staying the same as on Wednesday.

(€1 = HRK 7.567595)

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ZAGREB, 22 April, 2021 - The general government generated a consolidated deficit of HRK 27.5 billion, or 7.4% of GDP in 2020, with the consolidated general government debt also increasing, according to a report on which the national statistical office released on Thursday.

The deficit thus ended a three-year streak of surplus.

For comparison's sake in 2019 the government generated a consolidated government surplus of HRK 1.2 billion or 0.3% of GDP while in 2018 it amounted to HRK 863 million or 0.2% of GDP and in 2017, the surplus was HRK 2.8 billion or 0.8% of GDP.

The general government budget deficit occurred in 2020 mostly due to the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic for the national economy, which required the government's support measures to offset the impact.

The consolidated government debt in 2020 reached HRK 329.7 billion or 88.7% of GDP after that debt had gradually decreased for several years, the State Bureau of Statistics (DZS) said in the report. 

At the end of 2019 the general government debt amounted to HRK 292.9 billion, which accounted for 72.8% of GDP. In 2018 it was HRK 286.3 billion or 74.3% of GDP and in 2017 it was HRK 285.1 billion or 77.6% of GDP.

The general government debt increased by HRK 36.8 billion in 2020 or 12.6% year on year with HRK 32.8 billion being net loans and the remainder attributed to depreciation of the kuna currency exchange rate against the euro, DZS says in the report.

RBA: Results better than expected

Commenting on the latest DZS report, Raiffeisenbank Bank Austria (RBA) analysts underscored that the budget gap of HRK 27.5 billion is better than had been expected.

They also attributed the noticeable deterioration in fiscal metrics to the consequences of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in a double-digit contraction in budget revenue while at the same time generating an increase in general government spending.

The total consolidated government revenue in 2020 amounted to HRK 178.5 billion, which is a decrease of HRK 12.5 billion or 6.5% while at the same time expenditure amounted to HRK 205.9 billion, which is HRK 11.3 billion or 8.6% more y-o-y.

(€1 = HRK 7.567595)

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ZAGREB, 21 April, 2021 - The Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) indices dropped slightly on Wednesday, going down for the second day in a row, while turnover was somewhat higher owing to a block transaction with Končar - Electrical Industry shares.

The Crobex dropped by 0.09% to 1,877.80 points and the Crobex10 decreased by 0.28% to 1,171.80 points.

Regular turnover was HRK 4.4 million, around 600,000 less than on Tuesday, but total turnover was boosted by a block transaction with Končar Electrical Industry shares in the amount of HRK 3.4 million.

In regular trading, two stocks crossed the million kuna turnover mark, the Podavka food company, which turned over HRK 1.1 million and the Atlantska Plovidba shipping company, which generated a turnover of HRK 1.07 million.

Podravka traded at HRK 550 per share, a price increase of 0.56%, while Atlantska Plovidba rose by 5.77% to HRK 220 per share.

Thirty-seven stocks traded today, with 15 going down in price, 12 going up and 10 staying the same as on Tuesday.

(€1 = HRK 7.566672)

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