Lithuania's banking sector is transparent and healthy with no suspicious or threat-posing banks left, Vitas Vasiliauskas, the central bank's governor, said on March 24th.

Klaipedos Juru Kroviniu Kompanija (Klaipeda Stevedoring Company, or Klasco), which is part of Achemos Grupe (Achema Group), will distribute 3 million euros as dividends to shareholders, or 0.238 euros per share, after posting a pretax profit of 5.7 million euros for 2015.

With the European Central Bank (ECB) cutting its deposit rate further into negative territory, businesses are increasingly concerned that they may be charged for keeping their money with the domestic commercial banks. Households also fear that they may be charged for deposits whereas banks assure their customers that they do not plan any changes in the deposit market, the Lietuvos Zinios daily reports on March 22nd.

All three Baltic countries posted growth in new heavy commercial vehicle sales in the first two month of 2016, figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) showed on March 23rd.

Statistics Lithuania informs that in February 2016 industrial production totalled EUR 1.46 billion at current prices and, compared to January, increased by 2.4% (1) at constant prices (seasonally and calendar unadjusted – increased by 2.7%).

The Lithuanian Finance Ministry on March 18th lowered its GDP growth forecast for the year 2016 to 2.5%, from 3.2% projected last September. Ministry forecasts that the changing bargaining power in the labor market will improve workers' prospects for wages and that unemployment in the country will continue to ease.

Statistics Lithuania informs that in October 2015 the number of employees (including individual enterprises) with gross earnings of EUR 325 and less stood at 212.1 thousand (19.2%). More than half of employees (127.8 thousand) earning EUR 325 and less were working part-time.

Investors in Lithuania generate higher returns and pay off their investments faster than those in other investment locations, according to a new study. The study, conducted by analysts at the investment development agency Invest Lithuania, looked at levels of return on invested capital (ROIC). They concluded that, thanks to strong ROIC levels, companies see their investments in Lithuania pay off 30% faster than in other locations.

Easing unemployment and labor shortages in some sectors, coupled with increased minimum wages, are driving average wages in Lithuania higher, the central bank said on March 17th.

Deglava Real Estate, a company of Rimi Baltic group, which operates Rimi retail stores in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, has announced a tender for construction of a warehousing and administrative complex in Riga, and total investments in the project are planned at EUR 75 million.