Most Sofia share indices close lower, Gradus shines

The benchmark index was hit by a 3.13% fall in diversified group Chimimport [BUL:CHIM] to 0.682 levs and a 1.63% tumble in First Investment Bank, or Fibank, [BUL:FIB] to 2.42 levs.

The BGREIT index, which tracks seven real estate investment trusts, edged down 0.03% to 191.78 points after a 0.77% slip in Bulgarian Real Estate Fund REIT [BUL:BREF] to 2.58 levs.

The BEAMX, which tracks the ten most highly capitalised growth companies, plunged 3.00% to 95.07 points. Its biggest loser was biometric identification security systems developer Biodit [BUL:BDT], which dropped 7.32% to 1.14 levs.

In comparison, the BGBX40, which tracks the 40 most traded shares on the Sofia bourse, grew by 0.31% to 164.71 points. It was pushed up by poultry producer Gradus [BUL:GR6], which surged 13.33% to 1.70 levs, and Zlaten Lev Holding [BUL:HLEV], which leapt 5.56% to 3.80 levs.

Gradus and Zlaten Lev Holding further propelled the BGTR30 index, in which companies with a free float of at least 10% have equal weight, by 0.53% to 813.04 points.

Gradus also generated the highest turnover of the day, at 2.99 million levs ($1.66 million/1.53 million levs), as some 1.76 million shares traded.

Total turnover on the main market of the Sofia bourse soared to 19.7 million levs on Wednesday from 1.74 million levs a day earlier.

(1 euro = 1.95583 levs)