The government placed another issue of government securities on Monday worth 150 million euros. This is the seventh offering of government securities on the domestic market in 2026 to raise fresh funds, bringing the new government debt taken on since the beginning of the year to 1.050 billion euros. The weighted average interest rate at which the 10-year government securities were placed on Friday is 4.18% per annum, the Bulgarian National Bank announced. This is well above the interest rate of 3.50% expected by the Ministry of Finance. 10-year government securities were already placed in February, and the interest rate achieved then was 3.84%. According to the Public Finance Act, in the conditions of an extended budget, the Council of Ministers may take on government debt to refinance the debt in circulation up to the amount of the annual repayments on the government debt taken on by the beginning of the relevant budget year. At the same time, the budget deficit at the end of March reached a record level for the last 20 years - 1.5 billion euros, which is 1.2% of GDP. In March alone, the accumulated deficit is 1.7 billion euros, or 0.8% of the estimated gross domestic product (GDP) - the highest value for the last 20 years (since 2007). In 2025, the Ministry of Finance places new debt by selling government securities and bonds on international markets in the amount of about 8.9 billion euros (17.4 billion leva).

House prices in Bulgaria increased by 157 percent between 2015 and the end of 2025, according to Eurostat data, making our country one of the fastest-growing countries in the European Union. In the fourth quarter of 2025, house prices in the EU rose by 5.5 percent year-on-year, while rents rose by 3.2 percent. Quarter-on-quarter, house prices rose by 0.8 percent, while rents rose by 0.6 percent. Over the past decade, house prices in the EU have risen by 64.9 percent, while rents have increased by 21.8 percent. In 25 member states for which data are available, house price increases outpaced rent increases. The largest increase was recorded in Hungary (+290 per cent), followed by Portugal (+180 per cent) and Lithuania (+168 per cent). Bulgaria is in fourth place, immediately after Lithuania. Finland is the only country with a decrease in housing prices for the period – by 3 per cent. Rents have increased in all EU countries, with the largest increase recorded in Hungary (+109 per cent), followed by Lithuania (+88 per cent), as well as Ireland and Poland (+76 per cent each).

The largest and fastest growing Bulgarian company in the renewable energy sector - "Sunotec", will have a first-class shareholder - the American fund Blackstone acquires a minority stake in the group. The buyer - Blackstone manages assets for 1.3 trillion dollars. "Sunotec" is one of the largest builders of solar parks in Europe and an absolute leader in Bulgaria. The company was founded in 2012 in Germany by Bulgarians Kaloyan Velichkov and Torsten Herfert and for the last year has been doubling its revenues - to nearly 800 million euros. The American fund will acquire a minority stake in the entire business of "Sunotec" through a newly established holding company in Luxembourg, and the investment will be made through a capital increase. According to unofficial information, Blackstone's investment in "Sunotec" is about 250 million euros. With the help of the new investment, the company is also heading towards a new area - the construction of electricity transmission infrastructure. The lead financial advisor and investment intermediary of Sunotech on the transaction is J.P. Morgan SE, and the legal advisors are Linklaters and the law firm "Djingov, Guginski, Kyuchukov and Velichkov". Blackstone is advised by Nomura Greentech on the financial part and by Kirkland & Ellis on the legal part. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed by mid-2026. Blackstone is the largest alternative investment management fund in the world. It is based in New York, with over 70% of the shares held by institutional investors, among whom the leading ones are The Vanguard Group (9.66%) and BlackRock (6.93%). Globally, the fund manages assets for 1.3 trillion dollars, which include investments in real estate, equity investments, credit instruments, infrastructure, natural sciences, growth companies, follow-on investments and hedge funds. Blackstone Tactical Opportunities is Blackstone's platform for so-called opportunistic investments, which currently has 4 main funds. As of the end of 2025, it manages assets for 35 billion dollars and has 192 investments worldwide. For 2025, it reports a yield of 9.9%. "Sunotec" is one of the largest companies in Europe that designs, builds and operates photovoltaic power plants and energy storage systems, and in Bulgaria it is the absolute leader. The group operates worldwide. It has built over 680 photovoltaic power plants with over 15 GW of total installed capacity and more than 5 GWh of battery energy storage projects. The company employs about 2,500 people, mostly Bulgarians. Although its main focus is Europe, it also has projects in regions such as Latin America and West Africa, and for its expansion it relies on strategic partnerships and joint ventures. Through the joint venture Solaris Holding, in which the main shareholders of Eurohold Bulgaria are its partners, the group actually has its own solar parks, including those with batteries. Energy storage systems (BESS) are now the main part of its activity. In 2024, Sunotech also acquired a stake in the software company Adex Energy, which develops solutions for forecasting and managing electricity consumption. In 2024 alone, the group increased its revenues by 65% ​​to 448.4 million euros, after doubling its turnover the previous year. According to preliminary data for last year, the group again managed to almost double its revenues compared to 2024, with which it is already chasing 800 million euros.

The total turnover on the regulated market of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange in the first quarter of 2026 amounted to 179.44 million euros, or an average daily amount of 2.94 million euros. In 61 stock exchange sessions in the first three months of the year, a total of 31,620 transactions were carried out, or an average of 518 per session. In the first quarter of 2026, a total of 31 investment intermediaries concluded transactions on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange. The ranking is headed by the IP "First Financial Brokerage House" EOOD, which carried out transactions for its own needs and for clients for 104.2 million euros. Also at the top are Karol AD ​​(35.79 million euros), ABV Investments (33.08 million euros), Euro-Finance AD ​​(27.56 million euros) and Elana Trading AD (26.88 million euros). The leader in terms of concluded deals in the first quarter of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange is Karol AD ​​with 24,765. In second position is Elana Trading AD with 14,075, and the top three are formed by BenchMark Finance (9,483). The top 5 is completed by First Financial Brokerage House AD (4,376) and South Market AD (2,068).

The construction of the new Holiday Park in Ruse, located at 73 Lipnik Blvd., is progressing rapidly. The investor of HOLIDAY PARK Ruse is Videolux Holding, and the implementation of the construction activities has been assigned to the construction company MSK. The modern and convenient shopping complex HOLIDAY PARK Ruse will include more than 20 shops and restaurants. Among them will be popular chains such as Billa, Decathlon, Pepco, Ciela, Subra, Opticlasa and others, which will offer a variety of goods and services. The complex will have more than 11,000 sq m of retail space, and its construction is expected to create over 100 new jobs and support the local economy. HOLIDAY PARK Ruse will have over 300 free parking spaces. The project provides for the construction of charging stations for electric cars, as well as the installation of solar panels on the roofs of the retail outlets. HOLIDAY PARK Ruse is part of the large-scale portfolio of Videolux Holding – a company with extensive experience in building and managing modern retail parks in a number of large Bulgarian cities such as Sofia, Pernik, Stara Zagora, Pazardzhik, Shumen and Haskovo. The shopping complex is expected to open in the fall of 2026. The investor and owner of HOLIDAY PARK is Videolux Holding, part of which are the well-known hypermarkets for home, office and leisure equipment Technopolis and the home and garden chain Praktiker on the Bulgarian market. The company manages retail parks in Sofia, Pernik, Stara Zagora, Pazardzhik, Haskovo and Shumen. A total of two new complexes are to be opened in Sofia and Vratsa, as well as the expansion of HOLIDAY PARK Shumen.

A Bulgarian and Turkish company are joining forces to build a residential complex, a five-star hotel and a casino in Svilengrad. The project will be located on an area of ​​18 acres in close proximity to the entrance to the city from the highway. The total investment value exceeds 18 million euros, making it one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the region. The construction of six four-story residential blocks is planned, which will practically form an entirely new district in Svilengrad. In parallel with the residential part, the complex will also include a luxurious five-star hotel, which will have 80 modernly equipped rooms, ready to welcome the city's guests. The investors' ambition is for the hotel part to fully meet the high standards of the world-famous international chain - DoubleTree by Hilton. In order to ensure maximum comfort for its visitors, the complex will offer a variety of amenities: Indoor and outdoor swimming pool; Exquisite restaurant and bar; Modern SPA center for relaxation; A large casino, which will complement the entertainment options of the complex. The management of the hotel project is entrusted to Turizoom – an established international hotel investment and management company, which is officially accredited by the Hilton chain. It is expected that over 500 new jobs will be created, which will provide employment for a significant number of specialists in the region. The total built-up area of ​​the complex exceeds 8,300 square meters. The investor is OXXO BG.

UniCredit Bulbank ended the fourth quarter of last year with a profit of BGN 903,161,000. The bank's net operating income amounted to BGN 1,366,142,000. Interest income amounted to BGN 932,350,000, and fees and commissions – BGN 481,364,000. The bank also reported dividend income of BGN 110,514,000. The expenses that UniCredit Bulbank incurred for interest amounted to BGN 177,110,000, and those for fees and commissions – BGN 132,287,000. Administrative expenses amounted to BGN 321,303,000. UniCredit Bulbank has granted loans and advances totaling BGN 29,807,271,000. Non-financial enterprises are UniCredit Bulbank's largest client. They have drawn down loans for BGN 11,841,268,000, including BGN 7,507,528,000 and EUR 4,162,744,000. Households have taken out loans for BGN 6,954,667,000. Of these, BGN 6,906,934,000 and EUR 47,282,000 are in EUR. Households have paid the bank a total of BGN 161,681,000 in interest. Loans secured by residential property total BGN 6,762,463,000, of which BGN 6,726,239,000 are loans in BGN and EUR 36,043,000. Consumer loans amount to BGN 115,626,000, of which BGN 104,908,000 are in BGN and EUR 10,448,000. Deposits in the bank amount to BGN 33,301,989,000. The assets of UniCredit Bulbank at the end of December amounted to BGN 41,016,103,000, and the equity capital – BGN 4,766,734,000. UniCredit Bulbank has a two-tier management system. The Supervisory Board is composed of Emilia Stefanova Palibachiyska – Chairperson, Atanas Dimitrov Georgiev, Francesco Coreale, Massimo Francese, Silvia Carlotta Viviano, Marco Radice and Ivana Loniak Dam. The Management Board is composed of Tsvetanka Georgieva Mincheva – Chairperson and CEO, Ivaylo Rusinov Glavchovski – Executive Director, Borislav Vladkov Bangeev – Executive Director, Borislav Petrov Genov – Executive Director, Nevena Nikshe and Stefan Stoyanov Ivanov. UniCredit S.p.A. (UNICREDIT S.P.A.) is the largest shareholder with a share of 99.45% of the capital, which at the end of December amounted to BGN 285,777,000.

Greece is among the largest exporters of electricity in the European Union, according to data from the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Greek electronic publication "New Money" reports. In the first quarter of 2026, Greece was among the leading exporters in Europe, although until 2019 the country mainly imported electricity. Greece exports mainly electricity produced by solar installations. The country ranks after countries such as France, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany in electricity exports to the continent. Wind and solar energy are set to overtake fossil fuels in electricity production in the EU in 2025. In the first three months of this year, the country maintained the lowest wholesale electricity prices in both Central Europe and Southeastern Europe. Data from the European statistical office Eurostat show that in 2025 Greece exported electricity worth 970 million euros. According to Eurostat, in 2000, exports were worth around €100 million, and in 2012 they reached €200 million, after which they declined. A significant increase in electricity exports was registered after 2022, with electricity worth over €1.3 billion exported in 2022.

U.S. citizens lost a record $20.9 billion to cybercrime in 2025, $4 billion more than in 2024, according to a report by the FBI’s Cybercrime Reporting Center. According to the FBI, citizens over the age of 50 suffered the most from cybercrime, losing over $10 billion. This is due in part to lower levels of computer literacy and awareness of digital fraud. Individuals under the age of 30 lost a total of $630 million in 2025. The year was also a record year for digital fraud complaints, with citizens contacting the Cybercrime Reporting Center more than 1 million times. The most common complaint among Americans was the distribution of phishing links via email, with nearly 200,000 cases reported. In addition, 67,000 complaints were related to hacked personal databases, 32,000 - to fake appeals from government agencies and 18,000 - to hacked bank accounts. It is also noted that the use of cryptocurrency caused damage in the amount of approximately $ 11 billion. The agency also added that 22,000 cases of digital fraud were related to the use of artificial intelligence technologies. manager.bg

The authorities in Uzbekistan are preparing a large-scale release of state-owned properties, after deciding to almost halve the salary of an administrative employee. The measure could bring about 4.9 million sq. m of vacant land onto the market, which could be put up for sale and lease. The plan envisages the average area per employee in state institutions to be reduced from 27 to 12-15 sq. m. In addition to freeing up a significant amount of assets, the move also aims to reduce expenses for maintenance and utilities - a chronic problem for the bloated public sector. The proposals were presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as part of a broader strategy to limit the state's presence in the economy and promote privatization. Among the key ideas is the introduction of a unified system for managing state property in the regions. Despite continued attempts at reform, the state continues to have a serious weight, accounting for about 42% of the economy, with 1,685 state-owned enterprises. Over the past year, assets worth nearly 30 trillion soms (approximately €2.2 billion) were privatized, bringing in over 10 trillion soms in revenue to the budget (approximately €740 million). Land sales amount to another 6 trillion soms (about €440 million). In parallel, a system of financial incentives for privatization has been introduced, with part of the proceeds remaining at the local level. State-owned companies have paid out 49 trillion soms in dividends (about €3.6 billion), and their number has decreased by 60% over the last 5 years. In 2024 alone, 362 state-owned enterprises were identified as inefficient. In 2024, 451 affected companies suffered losses of 14 trillion soms (about €1 billion), and a year later, 362 companies reported losses of another 4 trillion soms (about €300 million).