Slovenian Stocks Sank, Track Global Markets

The blue-chip SBITOP index of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange (LJSE) lost 3.61% to 837.85 points and the broader 15-share SBI20 index fell 3.62% to 3,611.57.

The Slovenian bourse moved in line with European markets on Monday, local brokerage house Ilirika said in a daily note.

As usual, shares in drug maker Krka were the most traded, it added. Krka sank 4.26% to an average price of 49.42 euro ($69) on some 998,000 euro of turnover.

Each of the 10 blue chips closed lower on Monday. The country's largest food retailer, Mercator, was the top decliner among them, sliding 5.55% to 153.96 euro. Brewer Pivovarna Lasko lost 1.44%, the smallest decline, to 43.15 euro.

LJSE's total turnover rose to 4.29 million euro on Monday from 3.18 million euro on Friday, but the bond market contributed 1.18 million euro to the total turnover. Weak turnovers have dominated the market recently.

Market analysts have said Slovenia’s shattered capital market is not likely to rebound before the middle of next year when an expected recovery of the economy at home and abroad is likely to bring back investor confidence. Steep rises, however, are uncertain, they added.

($ = 0.7176 euro)