Тhe indexes of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) posted considerable declines today.

The SOFIX blue-chip index closed under the 450-point mark for the first time since April 2004. The index lost 3.72% on the day ending the session at 439.74 points and returning to its levels of February the same year.

The BG40 index of the most traded stocks lost 6.85% of its value today ending at 129.58 points. This was also the lowest close of the index since September 2005. The BG TR30 index of best performers in total return shed 3.94%, to 333.33 points on the day, while the the BGREIT index skidded 1.00% lower to 52.62 points.

BSE's overall turnover came to 2.62 mln leva today. The value of the deals sealed on the bond market accounted for 976,178 leva of the figure. The turnover on the over-the-counter market amounted to 1.26 mln leva as at 02.50 p.m. A total of 99 issues were traded on BSE today, with 17 of the companies posting stock prices increases.

Albena Invest Holding was the biggest advancer on segment A of BSE's Official market. The stock of the company depreciated by 5.66%, to 5.00 leva per share. The turnover on the position of Industrial Holding Bulgaria came to 66,567 shares. The stock of the company depreciated by 4.53%, to 2.55 leva per share.

Katex was the biggest decliner among the stock listed on BSE's Official market. The stock price of the company slumped by 13.77%, to 3 leva per share, while the traded turnover on the position totaled 50 only shares. Some of the other big decliners today included Oil & Gas Exploration & Production (-12.5%, to 3.8 leva per share), Orgachim (-11.05%, to 83.61 leva per share) and Odessos Shiprepair Yard (-11.67%, to 140 leva per share).

The banks listed on BSE also saw stock price declines today. First Investment Bank shed 6.57%, to 3.41 leva per share. Central Cooperative Bank lost 5.14% to 1.2 leva per share. Bulgarian American Credit Bank and Corporate Commercial Bank slipped by 3.8% and 1.45%, to 17.7 leva and 68 leva per share, respectively.

Samo of today's decliners on BSE's Unofficial market included Industrial Capital (-19.05%, to 2.21 leva per share), Lomsko Pivo (-9.37%, to 1.45 leva per share), Billboard (-7.51%, to 3.46 leva per share) and TK hold (-18.98%, to 2.8 leva per share).

Infrastructure companies also posted ended today's session lower. Trace Group Hold lost 10.4%, to 42.11 leva per share. Nearly 7,000 shares in Holding Roads changed hands on the day, while the stock depreciated by 3.77 leva per share. Moststroy ended the day 1.42%, lower at 6.3 leva per share.

Holding Varna (+5.18%, to 11.63 leva per share), Doverie United Holding (+3.38, to 7.96 leva) and Petrol (+2.78, to 9.25 leva per share) were today's only advancers on the Official market.