Top 100 most valuable companies in Romania, down to half of the 2007 value

The most valuable 100 Romanian companies have a total market value of EUR 56 billion, almost the same as in 2009, according to a recent ranking drawn up by Romanian daily Ziarul Financiar. In 2007, the market value of the best-traded companies stood at EUR 100 billion, but in 2010 the value halved, as indicated by data with the National Companies Registry Office. The paper's analysts believe the stagnation in the 2010 ranking compared with the ranking of the year before is a positive sign. OMV Petrom is number one for the 5th consecutive year, with a market capitalisation of EUR 4.5 billion. Second comes the Proprietatea Fund, valued at EUR 3.8 billion, while third is Hidroelectrica waterpower corporation. Orange Romania mobile communications operator came in 4th, with EUR 3.1 billion; Vodafone Romania mobile communications operator is 5th and 6th is Romgaz national natural gas corporation, valued at EUR 2.5 billion. BRD Groupe Societe Generale went up to number 7, followed at number 8 by BCR, for the first time inthe top 10 ranking. Nuclearelectrica nuclear power corporation was 9th, while the Romtelecom phone operator, valued at 1.1 billion euros, closes the top 10 ranking at number 10. AGERPRES