Romania had the highest annual inflation rate in the EU in October this year, of 7.9 percent, while the average in the EU was of 2.3 percent, and in the Euro zone, of 1.9 percent. The lowest level of inflation was recorded in Ireland, with minus 0.8 percent, Letonia, with 0.9 percent, Slovakia, with 1 percent. 15 EU member states saw their inflation up in October- Romania included.

Insurance company Generali posted a volume of gross subscribed premiums of EUR 78.4 million in the first nine months of the year, down 9 percent compared to the same period last year. The insurer saw however growth on its life insurance segment, with a growth of 6.4 percent.

Romania ranks 18th out of 30 countries listed in the World Bank Migration and Remittances Factbook 2011 (read the report below), with 2.8 million emigrants, close to Indonesia, with 2.5 million. The percentage of emigrants of the total population in Romania is of 13.2 percent. Romania is also among the top remittance-receiving countries, with an estimated USD 4.5 billion for this year, ranking 22nd out of 30 countries.

*Economic growth for 2011 is better seen after the third quarter results – in Ziarul Financiar
*Loans for individuals, the hope of banks for the fourth quarter – in Ziarul Financiar
*Mihai Rohan leaves Carpatcement – in Ziarul Financiar
*The crucial test for Schengen area: the airport check – in Ziarul Financiar
*Unhappy Volksbank customers asking bank to discontinue installments – in Ziarul Financiar

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has offered a EUR 10 million credit line to BRD Societe Generale to finance energy efficiency projects in Romania, the bank has announced. The loan is supplementing a similar EUR 10 million credit line offered by the EBRD to BRD in 2008.

Tire producer Pirelli, which will invest EUR 1.9 million by 2015 worldwide, will direct some of the investments in increasing tire production capacities to the new plants in Romania, Mexico and China, the company has recently announced. On the industrial segment, investments will be focused on the steelcord factory in Romania, as well as on the company's subsidiaries in China, Egypt and Russia.

Romanian state-owned drug producer Antibiotice Iasi posted a net profit of RON 21 million (EUR 4.9 million) in the first nine months of the year, up 33.9 percent on the same period of last year.

Do-it-Yourself retailer Praktiker has expended the Ploiesti store by 2,000 sqm with an investment of EUR 2.2 million, the company has announced. The store, which was opened in 2003, is now spreading over 8,270 sqm.

Mercadia, the retail company controlled by Romanian billionaire Dinu Patriciu (in picture), will invest EUR 100 million in the Mic.ro network of stores, turning 2,000 of them into mobile stores. The company will buy cars and turns them into mobile stores. The company already signed for 1,000 Fiat Ducato cars with importer Autoitalia.

*National Bank officials about the possibility to exit crisis: the budget adjustment is just the start of reforms – in Ziarul Financiar
*Patriciu wants to invest EUR 100 million in putting Mic.ro on wheels – in Ziarul Financiar
*Astra profit grows four times in nine months to EUR 4.3 million – in Ziarul Financiar
*Ardaf won EUR 2.6 million but its business dropped 23 percent – in Ziarul Financiar
*BCR Life Insurance sees business up 37 percent – in Ziarul Financiar

Romania had the highest annual inflation rate in the EU in October this year, of 7.9 percent, while the average in the EU was of 2.3 percent, and in the Euro zone, of 1.9 percent. The lowest level of inflation was recorded in Ireland, with minus 0.8 percent, Letonia, with 0.9 percent, Slovakia, with 1 percent. 15 EU member states saw their inflation up in October- Romania included.

Insurance company Generali posted a volume of gross subscribed premiums of EUR 78.4 million in the first nine months of the year, down 9 percent compared to the same period last year. The insurer saw however growth on its life insurance segment, with a growth of 6.4 percent.

Romania ranks 18th out of 30 countries listed in the World Bank Migration and Remittances Factbook 2011 (read the report below), with 2.8 million emigrants, close to Indonesia, with 2.5 million. The percentage of emigrants of the total population in Romania is of 13.2 percent. Romania is also among the top remittance-receiving countries, with an estimated USD 4.5 billion for this year, ranking 22nd out of 30 countries.

*Economic growth for 2011 is better seen after the third quarter results – in Ziarul Financiar
*Loans for individuals, the hope of banks for the fourth quarter – in Ziarul Financiar
*Mihai Rohan leaves Carpatcement – in Ziarul Financiar
*The crucial test for Schengen area: the airport check – in Ziarul Financiar
*Unhappy Volksbank customers asking bank to discontinue installments – in Ziarul Financiar

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has offered a EUR 10 million credit line to BRD Societe Generale to finance energy efficiency projects in Romania, the bank has announced. The loan is supplementing a similar EUR 10 million credit line offered by the EBRD to BRD in 2008.

Tire producer Pirelli, which will invest EUR 1.9 million by 2015 worldwide, will direct some of the investments in increasing tire production capacities to the new plants in Romania, Mexico and China, the company has recently announced. On the industrial segment, investments will be focused on the steelcord factory in Romania, as well as on the company's subsidiaries in China, Egypt and Russia.

Romanian state-owned drug producer Antibiotice Iasi posted a net profit of RON 21 million (EUR 4.9 million) in the first nine months of the year, up 33.9 percent on the same period of last year.

Do-it-Yourself retailer Praktiker has expended the Ploiesti store by 2,000 sqm with an investment of EUR 2.2 million, the company has announced. The store, which was opened in 2003, is now spreading over 8,270 sqm.

Mercadia, the retail company controlled by Romanian billionaire Dinu Patriciu (in picture), will invest EUR 100 million in the Mic.ro network of stores, turning 2,000 of them into mobile stores. The company will buy cars and turns them into mobile stores. The company already signed for 1,000 Fiat Ducato cars with importer Autoitalia.

*National Bank officials about the possibility to exit crisis: the budget adjustment is just the start of reforms – in Ziarul Financiar
*Patriciu wants to invest EUR 100 million in putting Mic.ro on wheels – in Ziarul Financiar
*Astra profit grows four times in nine months to EUR 4.3 million – in Ziarul Financiar
*Ardaf won EUR 2.6 million but its business dropped 23 percent – in Ziarul Financiar
*BCR Life Insurance sees business up 37 percent – in Ziarul Financiar