Drug producer Zentiva posted a net profit of around EUR 6.3 million in the first half of the year, three times higher than the figure registered in the same period of last year. The company's turnover stood at almost EUR 30 million, up 35.5 percent compared to the first six months of 2009.

Telecom operator Romtelecom, subsidiary of Greek OTE, posted an operational loss of EUR 38.2 million in the first half of this year, while during the same period of last year it had posted a EUR 12.3 million profit. The company's revenues went down by 11 percent in the second quarter of the year, to EUR 178.7 million, while its EBITDA was 59 percent lower, to EUR 24.4 million.

Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein (the European Economic Area – EEA) have signed an agreement to supply EUR 1.8 billion of non-reimbursable financing to 15 states in Central and Eastern Europe which are part of the EU, Romania included. The program will cover the 2009-2014 period and the financing will come from two programs – the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Cooperation Program.

Local dairy maker Albalact saw its net profit decline by 14 percent, to around EUR 580,000, mainly due to the increase in the foreign exchange rate in June, which triggered double financial expenses. “The dairy market goes through a very tough period, due to the dramatic decline of the purchasing power, which puts pressure on prices. We will continue to expand our portfolio, the distribution and the client network and we will have new launches and new promotions,” said Raul Ciurtin, president and general manager of Albalact.

The austerity measures taken by the Romanian government, which were initially announced to end in 2011, will have to be kept next year so that the country can achieve the targets it has agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Romanian Central Bank (BNR) has kept the key interest rate at 6.25 percent, as expected by market analysts. BNR has also decided to keep the mandatory minimum reserves in the system to 15 percent for passives in Romanian currency and 25 percent, for those in foreign currencies.

UniCredit Tiriac Bank posted a net profit of EUR 36 million in the first half of this year, down 18 percent on the same period of 2009, the bank has announced.

The bank's total revenues were of EUR 158.4 million, up 10 percent.

German media group Waz, which has recently said it would exit from several markets in the Balkans area, Romania included, was disappointed by the region, according to a statement made by its president Bodo Hombach, for Deutsche Welle.

The Bucharest-based subsidiary of Gazprom Marketing & Trading Limited has recently received the approval to supply natural gas in Romania. The license issued by the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) is valid for one year.

Local construction materials producer AdePlast increased its turnover by 25 percent in the first half of the year compared to the same period of last year, to EUR 13.7 million, the company has announced.

Drug producer Zentiva posted a net profit of around EUR 6.3 million in the first half of the year, three times higher than the figure registered in the same period of last year. The company's turnover stood at almost EUR 30 million, up 35.5 percent compared to the first six months of 2009.

Telecom operator Romtelecom, subsidiary of Greek OTE, posted an operational loss of EUR 38.2 million in the first half of this year, while during the same period of last year it had posted a EUR 12.3 million profit. The company's revenues went down by 11 percent in the second quarter of the year, to EUR 178.7 million, while its EBITDA was 59 percent lower, to EUR 24.4 million.

Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein (the European Economic Area – EEA) have signed an agreement to supply EUR 1.8 billion of non-reimbursable financing to 15 states in Central and Eastern Europe which are part of the EU, Romania included. The program will cover the 2009-2014 period and the financing will come from two programs – the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Cooperation Program.

Local dairy maker Albalact saw its net profit decline by 14 percent, to around EUR 580,000, mainly due to the increase in the foreign exchange rate in June, which triggered double financial expenses. “The dairy market goes through a very tough period, due to the dramatic decline of the purchasing power, which puts pressure on prices. We will continue to expand our portfolio, the distribution and the client network and we will have new launches and new promotions,” said Raul Ciurtin, president and general manager of Albalact.

The austerity measures taken by the Romanian government, which were initially announced to end in 2011, will have to be kept next year so that the country can achieve the targets it has agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Romanian Central Bank (BNR) has kept the key interest rate at 6.25 percent, as expected by market analysts. BNR has also decided to keep the mandatory minimum reserves in the system to 15 percent for passives in Romanian currency and 25 percent, for those in foreign currencies.

UniCredit Tiriac Bank posted a net profit of EUR 36 million in the first half of this year, down 18 percent on the same period of 2009, the bank has announced.

The bank's total revenues were of EUR 158.4 million, up 10 percent.

German media group Waz, which has recently said it would exit from several markets in the Balkans area, Romania included, was disappointed by the region, according to a statement made by its president Bodo Hombach, for Deutsche Welle.

The Bucharest-based subsidiary of Gazprom Marketing & Trading Limited has recently received the approval to supply natural gas in Romania. The license issued by the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) is valid for one year.

Local construction materials producer AdePlast increased its turnover by 25 percent in the first half of the year compared to the same period of last year, to EUR 13.7 million, the company has announced.