INO:

Dow sinks 2,000 points in worst day since 2008, S&P 500 drops more than 7%; European stocks close 7% lower and enter bear market territory as oil prices crash

The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank more than 2,000 points on Monday, its worst day since 2008, as fears about the spread of the new coronavirus and an oil price war sent investors scrambling out of stocks. The Dow dropped 2,013.7 points — 7.79% — as Boeing, Apple, Goldman Sachs and Caterpillar cut the index by at least 100 points each. The Dow ended the day at 23,851.02 and represented its single-worst day since Oct. 15, 2008, when it fell 7.87%.
The S&P 500 plunged 7.6% to 2,746.56 as investors punished financials and energy stocks. Energy names in the S&P 500, including Exxon Mobil, Hess and Marathon Oil, finished the day down more than 20%. Financial stocks ended down more than 10%. The Nasdaq Composite fell 7.29% to end the day at 7,950.68.
European markets tanked Monday as global investors braced for the spread of the coronavirus and oil prices fell after the collapse of OPEC talks. The pan-European Stoxx 600 provisionally ended the day over 7% lower at 340.83 — that’s down more than 20 percent from its year high of 433.90 meaning it’s in bear market territory. Oil and gas stocks plunged over 16% to lead losses as all sectors and major bourses declined sharply.
Energy giant BP plunged over 19% and Royal Dutch Shell was 17% lower at the close, as oil stocks took a hammering.
Source: CNBC

SERBIA:

Preliminary agreement on construction of TPP Kolubara B – Half of equipment and works to be provided by Serbian economy, EPS says

The PE Elektroprivreda Srbija (EPS) and the Chinese company POWERCHINA have signed the Preliminary Agreement on cooperation of the completion of the construction of the Thermal Power Plant Kolubara B in Kalenic near Ub. The Preliminary Agreement was signed by Milorad Grcic, the acting director of EPS, and Yang Bo, the director of POWERCHINA. The construction of the TPP Kolubara B started in the 1980s, and EPS now plans to complete this spare-capacity facility, with a block of around 350 MW, in cooperation with the Chinese partner, based on the interstate agreements between Serbia and China, EPS says on its website.
Source: Ekapija

Serbian public debt down to 48.9 pct of GDP in January

Serbia's debt-to-GDP ratio dropped 3.1 pct to 48.9 bln euros in January compared to December, the Ministry of Finance said Friday. In nominal terms, the public debt totalled 24.2 bln euros at end-January. At the end of December 2019, the public debt amounted to 23.94 bln euros, or 52 pct of the national GDP. The debt-to-GDP ratio was at its lowest in 2008, when it stood at 28.3 pct.
Source: Tanjug

Belgrade one of most attractive construction locations

The value of construction works in Serbia was 35 pct higher in 2019 compared to the year before. In spite of higher prices on the real estate market, sales are rising and new buildings are the most in demand, an RTS report said, identifying Belgrade as one of Europe's most attractive locations for investing in the real estate sector. There are 55,000 active construction sites in Serbia - four times as many than in 2015 - and, according to the World Bank ease of doing business rankings, in five years, Serbia has jumped from the 186th place to a top ten position in terms of the speed of the building permit procedure, the report said.
Source: Tanjug