SLOVENIA
DeSUS executive committee proposes party leave coalition
The executive committee of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) has proposed to the party's council that DeSUS leave the current coalition and back party leader Karl Erjavec as a candidate for prime minister-designate, the party told the STA on Thursday. (STA)
EU court rules Slovenia breached inviolability of ECB archives
The European Court of Justice has ruled that Slovenia breached the inviolability of ECB archives in a 2016 police search of archives at the country's central bank that was part of an investigation into the 2013 bank bailout. (STA)
EUR 5.67 billion in borrowing planned for next year
The budget financing programme for 2021, adopted by the government on Wednesday, shows that EUR 5.67 billion in borrowing is needed next year. In that case, the central government budget debt would increase to EUR 36.62 billion or around 75% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). (STA)
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
S&P 500 inches higher amid stimulus hopes, Fed commitment to keep supporting economy; European stocks close higher on Brexit trade deal progress, euro zone data; BELELX down 1%; NIS adopted 2021 business plan
The S&P 500 rose slightly on Wednesday amid the Federal Reserve’s latest pledge to support the economy and the apparent progress in U.S. fiscal stimulus negotiations. The broader-market index closed 0.2% higher at 3,701.17, just below a record closing high. The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.5% to end the day at 12,658.19, notching intraday and closing all-time highs, as Apple and Microsoft each popped more than 2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged, falling 44.77 points, or 0.15%, to 30,154.54.
The U.S. central bank said it will buy at least $120 billion of bonds each month “until substantial further progress has been made toward the Committee’s maximum employment and price stability goals.”
Wednesday’s moves were kept in check by a steeper-than-expected drop in U.S. retail sales. The Commerce Department said retail sales fell by 1.1% in November. Economists polled by Dow Jones expected a decline of 0.3%.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed up by 0.8%, with almost all sectors bar banks in positive territory. Insurance shares led the gains, climbing 2.1%. iness activity in the euro zone is having a fairly robust December, according to the latest preliminary purchasing manager’s index (PMI) data for the region.
Belgian pharmaceutical company Galapagos plunged more than 18% after U.S. partner Gilead opted not to seek approval for a rheumatoid arthritis drug, according to Reuters.
BELELX15 was down 1%, as Energoprojekt lost 175, while Belgrade Airport was don w4%. The most active was Komercijana with RSD 15m in volume. NIS reported adoption of its 2021 business plan. According to the document the company will keep investing in exploration&production, in parallel with attempts to improve operating efficiency, while TPP Pancevo is expected to be operational next year. No other details were provided. (CNBC, ILIRIKA)
