December 24 (SeeNews) - Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) share indices finished mostly lower on Monday as trading volume increased despite brokers' expectations of quieter trading ahead of Christmas holidays elsewhere in Europe.
The blue-chip BELEX15 index edged up 0.01% to 2,192.79, while the broader BELEXline index slipped 0.25 % to 3,646.54. The joint SRX index of the bourses in Belgrade and Vienna shed 0.74% to close at 1,237.78.
Brokers had said foreign-based investment funds might not operate on the market this week as they celebrate Christmas, which could lead to lower demand and turnover.
BELEX is open for trading as usual this week because Serbia celebrates the Eastern Orthodox Christmas on January 7. Initially the bourse had decided to halt trading on December 31 and January 3 and 4, but the country’s securities commission opposed the decision as those days are not religious holidays. The market will close on January 1 and 2 and then again on January 7.
Shares in drug distributor Srbolek jumped by 20% to 900 dinars ($16.50/11.50 euro) on turnover of 207.9 million dinars, almost half of the day's total. Another pharmaceutical company, Zorka Farma, rose by 4.79% to close at 1,598 dinars.
Total BELEX turnover increased to 587 million dinars from 380 million on Friday.
(1 euro = 78.349 dinars)