March 7 (SeeNews) - All four Bulgarian Stock Exchange indices ended higher on Thursday, after the exchange announced changes to the composition of the indices, which will take effect as of March 18.
Poultry producer Gradus [BUL:GR6] and diversified groups Industrial Holding Bulgaria (IHB) [BUL:4ID] and Doverie United Holding [BUL:5DOV] will join the blue-chip SOFIX index as of March 18, replacing battery manufacturer Monbat [BUL:5MB], resort operator Albena [BUL:6AB] and construction company Trace Group Hold [BUL:T57].
Albena was the top gainer on the exchange on Thursday, adding 8.47% to 41 levs. Trade in the company's shares formed the largest turnover on Thursday, of 1.1 million levs.
Total trading turnover on the BSE regulated market soared to 2.85 million levs on Thursday from just over 100,000 levs on Wednesday.
The SOFIX, which tracks the 15 blue chips listed on the exchange, closed 0.19% higher at 584.09 points on Thursday. However, the index has lost 0.22% since the start of March, and is 1.74% down year-to-date.
The wider BGBX40 index and the equally-weighted BGTR30, which both count Albena as a member, also ended in green.
The BGBX40, which tracks the 40 most traded shares on the Sofia bourse, edged up 0.02% to 116.32 points, while the BGTR30, in which companies with a free float of at least 10% have equal weight, gained 0.27% to 505.33 points.
As of March 18, the BGBX40 index will have six new members, while the BGTR30 will see ten new additions.
The BGREIT index, which tracks real estate investment trusts, added 0.15% to 120.89 points on Thursday, solely due to a 0.77% rise in the share price of Advance Terrafund REIT [BUL:6A6].
The BGREIT will only see one change as of March 18 - Aktiv Properties REIT [BUL:5AX] will replace Bulland Investments REIT [BUL:5BD].
(1 euro = 1.95583 levs)