Sofia Bourse Indices Close Mixed, Blue-Chip Index Extends Losses
The indices of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange closed mixed on Thursday, with the blue-chip SOFIX index adding to its string of losses since the beginning of the year, bourse data showed. The SOFIX, which tracks the 15 most traded and capitalised companies listed on the Sofia bourse, declined 0.95% to 571.18 points, largely due to a sharp drop in diversified group Chimimport. Chimimport paced the blue-chip losers, closing 3.78% lower at 1.78 levs in a 103,932 levs ($61,217/53,139 euro) turnover. The BGBX40, which tracks the 40 most traded shares, however, closed 0.12% higher at 112.58 points, backed by gains in battery producer Monbat [BUL:5MB] and hydraulic equipment manufacturer M+S Hydraulic. Monbat appreciated 1.96% to 7.8 levs, as 177 of its shares changed hands, while M+S Hydraulic added 1.32% to 7.65 levs in a volume of 349 shares. Diversified group Holding Varna was the biggest blue-chip gainer, as its shares added 2.56% to 40 levs in a volume of 68 shares.