The first six months of 2008 have brought some 40 percent loss for main Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) indexes, since international markets suffered their own major losses, Business Standard Daily reports.

The financial investment companies (SIFs) lost almost 40 percent, heading towards their first annual loss since 2001, losing a collective €1.14 billion this year.

Analysts indicate that indexes could advance, but they do no expect profit in 2008, if foreign investors do not return to the market.

“Romania had record macro evolutions in the semester in which the stock exchange had the worst activity,” said Adrian Danciu, Broker Cluj analyst.