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According to a press release by the institution, in 2009 "Intesa Sanpaolo" Bank posted a net profit, as well as increased its loan portfolio by 27%.

"Lloyds Banking Group" Plc, the largest mortgage lender in the UK, expects to become profitable again this year, based on the solid results obtained in the first ten weeks of 2010.

Rents for office spaces have begun a speedy drop all over the country (20.1% to 45% last year). Rent in Braşov dropped 31%, according to the website imobiliare.ro, from EUR 9.27/sqm to EUR 6.40 /sqm, which makes it the town with the lowest rent...

Uniqa, an insurance company owned by the eponymous Austrian company, reported a 4% drop in subscribed premiums for 2009, to 486.64 million lei, whereas claims increased 4.8%, to 409.51 million lei, according to preliminary data published by the...

Last week, the revenue and expense budgets of several of the divisions of the Romanian Railways Company were published in the Official Gazette.

"Coca-Cola" Co., the world"s largest soft drink maker, wants to buy Russian beverage maker "Nidan Juices", to expand its portfolio in the country.

Romanian car manufacturer "Dacia", yesterday officially launched he new model of the company- the SUV dubbed "Duster" - in the presence of the multiple French Formula 1 champion, Alain Prost, who said that "the new Duster...

In their rush for European funding, an increasing number of local administrations resort to unusual methods to come up with the money needed for co-financing projects based on European funding.

The Romanian National Bank yesterday posted the lowest Leu-Euro exchange rate since January 2009, with the European currency dropping to 4.0801 lei.

Almost 4,200 insolvency cases were opened in the first two months of 2009, up from 2,800 in the similar period of 2009, said Arin Stănescu, the chairman of the National Union of Insolvency Practitioners (UNPIR), at the international conference...

Chinese company "Henan Zhongfu Industrial" Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Dutch group "Vimetco" NV - owner of "Alro" Slatina, will enter a joint venture with "Chalco Henan Aluminium Fabrication" Co. Ltd., part of the...

Romania"s banking system, faithfully mimics the economy and its major players, says Nicolaie Hoanţă, who has now gone back to his career as a university teacher, after leaving his position as chairman of Banca Comercială Carpatica.

Interview with Head of Economic and Commercial Office Embassy of Italy in Bucharest, Mr. Carmelo Barbera

"Deutsche Bank" AG, Germany"s largest bank, has posted a net profit of EUR 4.95 billion last year, after posting a loss of 3.9 billion Euros in 2008, thanks to the performance of the corporate and investment banking division.

The receiver of KD Life Asigurări, appointed by the Insurance Surveillance Commission, will focus on helping the company recover by raising funds for a share capital increase from its main shareholders, or from another shareholder that is...

The board of administration of Braşov-based drug distributor "Ropharma" has summoned the General Shareholders" meeting in Iaşi, on April 15th.

Teachers have begun protests, unhappy with the fact that unions were not consulted on the new law of education, according to Agerpres.

Dozens of minority interests of the Ministry of the Economy and a few hundreds of AVAS holdings will enter the portfolio of the future National Investment Fund (FIN), one of the anti-crisis measures proposed by the current government.

This year"s economic growth could be 1.3%, provided there are no turbulences on the international markets, Finance Minister Sebastian Vlădescu said yesterday.

Israeli developer Aura Investments sold 37% of its stake in the joint venture with GTC to the latter, in exchange for the cancellation of a debt of EUR 13.6 million, according to a statement Aura sent to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, quoted by...

Italian company Immobiliare Grande Distribuzione (IGD), owner of retail chain Winmarkt saw the value of its Romanian real estate assets drop 6.2% YOY in 2009, to EUR 187.6 million.

This seems to be the price that the Romanian government would need to pay now in order to make sure its gets back the 570 million Euros in debt that it is owed by the former Petromidia refinery.

For the first time, a Romanian court decided that an owner whose assets were seized by the Communist regime needs to be compensated using cash instead of shares of the Proprietatea Fund.

Romania needs to adapt to living within its means, says Tony Lybek, the representative of the IMF for Romania and Bulgaria, in an interview for BURSA.

The financial troubles of the SC Rapid SA have determined owner George Copos to take defensive measures aimed at protecting the soccer if the company which owns it were to enter liquidation.

Prime Minister Emil Boc recently asked for the speed-up of the creation of the National Investment Fund (FIN), the minister of the Economy, Adriean Videanu said yesterday during a conference.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recently said in a report, that the "stimuli" included in the EUR 13 billion stimulus package announced by the Romanian government in February 2009 as a means of supporting the...

Romania successfully borrowed one billion Euros through its 5-year Eurobonds issue, which offers a coupon of 5% and a total yield of 5.17% per annum, even though at this yield, demand from foreign investors reached EUR 4.9 billion.

The mass-media crisis creates hilarious situations, like the thing that happened yesterday with "Ziarul Financiar", which dedicated an entire page to the subject of bankruptcy, while at the same time, Daily Business published the news...

The officials of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Braşov yesterday announced that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, together with the European Commission, has launched a funding facility to help improve the...

The Romanian Securities Commission yesterday approved the amendment of the takeover bid made by the Rompetrol Group, by which the latter raises the price at 0.0751 lei/share for shares of "Rompetrol Rafinare".

The managers of the five financial investment companies (SIF) have had several talks with the Romanian Securities Commission (CNVM) on the issue of a possible share capital increase, Costel Ceocea, the chairman of SIF Moldova said for BURSA.

Private mandatory pension funds (Second Pillar) have generated a net profit of 362 million lei, in their 22 months of operation (since May 2008), net of fees, according to a press release by the Association of Private Pension Funds (APAPR).

The stock market regulator yesterday approved the Regulation on using global accounts, stock borrowing and short selling, almost two years after the management of the Bucharest Stock Exchange first asked for their introduction.

New anti-crisis measures will be included by the Government in a project intended to relaunch the economic activity, in particular for the creation of new jobs.

Bancpost has launched the mortgage with layoff risk insurance policy called "Safe at home", with a fixed interest rate of 7.95% and fixed monthly payments for the first three years, according to a press release by the bank.

ProCredit Bank launched the financial package "ProAvantaj", intended to facilitate access to banking products and services for small and medium enterprises, the bank yesterday announced.

Commercial exchanges between Spain and Romania reached a level of EUR 1.333 billion, down almost 26% over the similar period of 2008.

The government seems to hesitate to begin massive layoffs in the public sector, for fear of the grave consequences that this measure could have on the global budget expenses.

Foreign demand for honey and other beekeeping products continues to grow, said Victor Mateş, general manager of Apidava. He said that domestic sales would increase this year, while exports would increase depending on beekeeper output for this...

Last week, Transgaz officially inaugurated the gas pipeline that connects the towns of Gheorgheni and Topliţa, in which the company invested approximately USD 1 million out of its own funds.

The caravan for raising 1 billion Euros from the major European investors departs today, led by Sebastian Vlădescu, the minister of Finance.