The Prague Stock Exchange announced that it is replacing 10 stocks in the benchmark PX-50 Index, mostly due to low liquidity or delisting. Of the better-known stocks, the changes effect IPB (removed after being suspended on June 15), Elektrarny Opatovice (an independent utility; to be delisted) and Mostecka uhelna (mining; low liquidity). A rather funny assortment of 10 new stocks will be added to the PX-50, the most important being Tabak, a popular but scarce dividend-bearing stock. Strangely enough, the troubled Skoda Plzen engineering company has also been added. The addition of Tabak could stimulate further interest in the stock. The changes take effect July 3, 2000.
(Ondřej Daťka)