Speculation over NIS sanctions leads to volatile trading week

The last five trading days brought a lot of activity to the BSE, mainly due to panic trading in shares of the Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIIS) following speculation by government officials that the US might impose sanctions on the company. The Belex15 index weakened by 0.6% to 1,138.9 points during the week, while total turnover amounted to RSD 1.3bn (EUR 10.7m).

NIS recorded a solid turnover of RSD 34.4m, closing the week down 1.7% at RSD 765. Shares in the company fell to RSD 622 at the open on Monday, following speculation over the weekend that US sanctions could hit the company on January 1, next year. The stock made a solid recovery later in the week, helped by the company’s announcement that it had successfully placed a corporate bond.

Messer Tehnogas (TGAS) shares also recorded the slightest increase in turnover in a long while, rising 2.2% to RSD 35,443 on a turnover of RSD 24.9m. Since the beginning of the year, the stock of this producer of technical gases has risen by around 124%, contributing most to the strong index performance in 2024.

Belgrade Airport (AERO) rose slightly to RSD 2,000 with a turnover of RSD 16.2m, while Gornji Milanovac-based Metalac (MTLC) fell 3.5% to RSD 1,900 with a turnover of RSD 3.7m. Also, among the losers, Dunav Osiguranje (DNOS) fell 2.1% to RSD 1,340 on a turnover of RSD 2.8m.

WEEKLY REPORT, December 16-20, 2024