News Parkiet

Equity market

Blue-chip index close to this year?s low

Blue-chip WIG20 index fell 1.7 percent to close near this year?s low yesterday, weighted down by lower corporate earnings, upcoming privatization IPOs and overall economic prospects. The main index closed lower for ten consecutive sessions yesterday, a record for the WSE. Five WIG20 components lost more than 20 percent of their value since the index hit this year?s high in late February.

Telecommunications

Netia?s partner interested in 3G license

Iceland?s Novator investment fund says that 3G mobile phone services in Poland are ?economically feasible? even for a company that doesn?t have a GSM license. Novator?s Polish partner, local phone company Netia SA has won the country?s fourth 3G license after a 344 million zloty bid. However, URTiP telecoms regulator has decided against awarding yet another GSM license because it said all the bids were either too low or otherwise didn?t meet its specifications.

Footwear

Protektor plunges on profit warning

Shares of LZPS Protektor, a shoe manufacturer that makes combat boots for the Polish army plummeted 35.7 percent yesterday after the company warned investors to expect lower margins on a crucial three-year contract with army procurement agency.