The SOFIX blue-chip index of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) dropped to under its November 20 closing value of 319.04 points to end today's session at 318.52 points close to its July 2003 levels. The index lost nearly 4% of its value today. The other three indexes also ended today's session with losses.

The broader BG40 skidded 2.13% lower, to 100.27 points, while BG REIT shed 0.94%, to 45.54 points. The BG TR30 index erased 2.59% of its value closing at 241.58 points.

BSE's overall turnover came to 2.34 mln leva today, which is a record for the last few days. The bond market accounted for over 526,000 leva of the figure. A total of 96 issues were traded on the with 24 of the companies posting stock price gains.

Official market advancers today included Doverie United Holding (+16.03%, to 5.6 leva), Odessos Ship Repair Yard (+2.69%, to 113.99 points), Orgachim (+3.89%, to 80 leva) and Lead & Zinc Complex (+0.65%, to 6.95 leva per share).

Today was yet another negative session for the four actively traded banks on BSE. Central Cooperative Bank slipped by 5%, to 0.93 leva. First Investment Bank dropped 11.65%, to 1.85 leva per share, while Corporate Commercial Bank and Bulgarian American Credit Bank lost 7.16% and 1.02%, to 65 leva and 9.7 leva per share, respectively.

Chimimport's stock depreciated by 5.33%, 1.83 leva per share. The traded volume on the position amounted to 88,242 shares. Holding Roads was also among today's decliners. The stock price of the infrastructure company went down by 3.7%, to 2.6 leva per share.

The turnover on the position of Eurohold Bulgaria totaled 100,486 shares while the price of the stock plunged by nearly 12%, to 1.2 leva per share.

Monbat ended the day 2.49% lower at 4.35 leva per share. Unlike the starter battery maker Elhim Iskra's stock appreciated by 3.15%, to 1.64 leva per share.

SS Konstantine And Elena Holding closed the day 3.26% lower at 33 leva per share. Albena's stock price advanced by 0.6%, to 24.95 leva per share. Albena will sell a 47.83-percent stake in Albena Invest Holding to Albena Holding, at a price of 10.15 leva per share. The decision for the sale will be take at the Albena's general shareholders' meeting scheduled for January 18.

Moststroy (-4.49%, to 3 leva) and Trace Group Hold (-5.68%, to 33.01 leva) were also among today's losers on BSE.