"Trading on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) has been quite lackluster since the start of the year. If transfers of packages on the positions of Chimimport, Holding Nov Vek, Holding Sila, Odessos Ship Repair Yard, Industrial Holding Bulgaria and certain REITs, one could say that trade has actually died down," Mincho Minchev, chief dealer at Investbank, told Profit.bg.

The decline in the stock prices of banks may be attributed mainly to sell-off by foreign investors closing the few positions they have left on the Bulgarian capital market, according to Minchev.

"There is a strong probability that only local investors will stay on the market soon," Minchev added.

The inactivity of the local market participants may be put down to the cautiousness and insecurity regarding the impact, of the economic crisis on the public companies.

"I do not expect trading tension until the financial reports of the companies are published and probably even after that," the dealer said.

SOFIX pierced through another low yesterday dropping by 2.79%, to 309.7 points. The broader BG40 slipped to under 100 points, after losing 1.83%, to 97.37 points. The index last closed under 100 points in the second half of November.

BG TR30 shed 1.37%, to 231.92 points. BG REIT advanced by 1.67%, на 46.32 пункта.

BSE's overall turnover amounted to 7.5 mln leva. A total of 93 issues were traded on the day with 22 of the companies posting stock price gains.

The article is not a recommendation for buying/selling stock!