TURNOVER AT ZAGREB STOCK EXCHANGE IN FIRST SIX MONTHS - OVER BILLION KUNA

ZAGREB, July 25 (Hina) - A turnover of more than a billion kuna was realised at the Zagreb Stock Exchange in the first six months of 2000, which is a 296.6 percent increase in comparison to the same period last year. The value of transactions with shares in the first half of this year was higher than the total annual trade in shares in 1999 and 1998 and the first six months of a record 1997. The value of Crobex index increased by 16.7 percent to 834.7 points. The highest monthly turnover, amounting to 374.7 million kuna, was recorded in May. The shares of the Varazdinska Bank accounted for the largest portion of the turnover, amounting to almost 381 million kuna. The price of Varazdinska Bank shares rose by 281.25 percent to 305 kuna. The shares of the Zagrebacka Bank, which were sold at a price of 1,410 kuna (a 54.95 percent increase), accounted for 261.2 million of the total turnover, whereas the shares of the pharmaceutical company Pliva accounted for 153.3 million kuna of turnover. Pliva shares were sold at a price of 428,10 kuna, which is a decrease of 16.06 percent. In the first six months, the value of Varazdinska Bank shares increased most as did the Series A preferred shares of the Zagrebacka Bank, by 210.24 percent to 1,030 kuna. The shares of the Dalmatinska Bank increased by 177.33 percent to 208 kuna. The shares of the confectionery industry Kras and Rijecka Bank also registered significant increases. The largest decrease in the price of shares was recorded by the savings bank Sonic, Jadroplov company and the hotel 'Rabac'. (hina) rml ,