THE INFLATION RATE IN BULGARIA HITS ANOTHER HIGH

Market Overview (13^th December – 17^th December)

The main Bulgarian index SOFIX increased by 1.69% this week, up to 619.55 points. The broad index BGBX40 increased by 1.48% to 140.37 points. BGREIT decreased this trading week to 162.79 points, down by 1.02%.

Corporate News       

Sirma Group Holding AD (SGH) reports growth of 10% YoY to BGN 43,273mln in revenue for the first nine months of 2021. The total expenses of the group are BGN 38.73 million as of the end of September, representing 8.5% growth, mainly due to surging external expenses. Thus, the net profit results in BGN 5,633mln, an annual growth of 10%. The largest share of the company’s revenues is formed by the segment „Intelligent evolution of organizations“ – BGN 21.5mln at the end of September. Revenues from the System Integration segment are BGN 15mln.

HR Capital JSC (HRC) sold all 330,000 shares it offered at its IPO on 15.12.2021. The company raised BGN 1.5 million, which it will use to invest in new projects. The shares have been re-subscribed almost 11 times, marking BGN 4.48 price per share.

Economic News                                                       

The annual inflation rate in Bulgaria climbed to 7.3% in November of 2021 from 6% in the previous month. It was the highest inflation rate since December of 2008. Upward pressure came from food & non-alcoholic beverages (7.2%); housing & utilities (10.9%); and transport (22.9%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 1.4%.  Bulgaria’s trade deficit widened to BGN 776.3 million in October of 2021 from BGN 697.5 million in the corresponding month of the previous year. Imports rose by 20.7% to an all-time high of BGN 6849.5 million, due to higher purchases from both EU countries. Meanwhile, exports surged 22% year-on-year to a record high of BGN 6073.2 million. Bulgaria’s current account deficit narrowed to EUR 82.6 million in October of 2021 from EUR 335.3 million in the corresponding month of the previous year. The secondary income surplus shrank to EUR 43.6 million. Meanwhile, the goods deficit declined to EUR 288 million and the primary income shortfall narrowed to EUR 43.7 million.

Active COVID-19 cases in Bulgaria are on a decreasing trend with a 7-day MA of 1,444 cases. The active cases at the end of the week were 95,828. The total number of fully vaccinated people so far is 1,873mln, which is 27% of the population in Bulgaria.

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