Bulgaria's blue-chip index falls on Neochim, Chimimport losses

The fertiliser maker decreased by 3.54% to 43.60 levs. Additionally, the index was pressed by diversified group Chimimport [BUL:CHIM], which declined by 1.23% to 0.80 levs, and M+S Hydraulic, which lost 0.55% to 9.05 levs.

At the same time, the BGBX40 index, which tracks the 40 most traded shares on the Sofia bourse, closed flat at 138.92 points. The top gainer in the index was machine engineering company Hydraulic Elements and Systems [BUL:HES] after ending 5.83% higher at 6.35 levs. It offset losses at Neochim and pawnshop chain operator Sofia Commerce-Pawn Brokerage [BUL:SCOM], which fell by 2.05% to 2.86 levs.

Neochim also pressed the BGTR30 index, in which companies with a free float of at least 10% have equal weight. The index, which fell by 0.05% to 729.25 points, was additionally pushed down by a loss of 1.87% at farming group Agria Group Holding [BUL:AGH].

In contrast, the BGREIT index, which tracks seven real estate investment trusts, climbed by 1.34% to 184.61 points. The positive performance was driven by Balkan and Sea Properties [BUL:BSP], which rose by 6.48% to 23 levs. In addition, Advance Terrafund REIT [BUL:ATER] climbed by 0.66% to 3.05 levs.

Total turnover on the main market of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange slipped to 3.4 million levs ($1.83 million/1.74 million euro) from 3.6 million levs a day earlier.

The biggest position of the turnover, or 2.88 million levs, was generated by Sopharma Properties [BUL:SFI]. The stock closed flat at 9.45 levs with 305,000 shares traded.

(1 euro = 1.95583 levs)