The housing sale results of Q1 2014 in Lithuania exceeded the expectations of most market players. According to data from the Centre of Registers, in Q1 2014 the number of transactions involving houses in Lithuania was 27% higher compared to the same period of 2013. The number of apartment transactions in the same period was 48% higher than a year ago.

The positive flow of net portfolio investment amounted to 6 million litas in February, while in January-February 2014 – almost two billion litas, the Statistics Department of the Bank of Lithuania said in a statement.

On early Friday morning laying of power cables started at the shores of the Baltic sea. It is one of the fundamental construction stages of the international 450 kilometre long electricity link NordBalt, between Lithuania and Sweden.

Bank Swedbank and wind farm developer Amberwind have signed a long-term funding agreement worth LTL 357 million (EUR 103 million) for the construction of the largest in Lithuania 73.5 megawatt wind farm in Taurage county.

In March 2014, the results of cargo turnover in Klaipeda Seaport were quite near the best cargo handling results achieved throughout the entire period of the history of the Seaport – 3 234,3 thou. tn; the best month through the entire history of the Seaport was October of 2011 – 3 298,2 thou. tn.

Lithuania's credit rating was raised two notches by Standard & Poor's on a stronger-than-expected fiscal performance and higher prospects the Baltic nation will qualify for euro adoption in 2015.

In the fourth quarter of 2013, the annual growth rate of Lithuania's financial assets (2%) exceeded that of liabilities (0.4%). In Q4 2012, the said growth rates accounted for 5 and 2%, respectively.

Statistics Lithuania informs that, based on non-final data obtained from customs declarations, Intrastat reporting and VAT returns data, exports in February 2014 amounted to LTL 6.2 billion, imports – LTL 6.5 billion. Exports of goods of Lithuanian origin amounted to LTL 3.6 billion. Exports increased by 5.9% and imports by 1.4%.

The European Union launched a case against Russia at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Tuesday, over a ban imposed on all EU pork imports after cases of African swine fever were detected in the bloc, the DPA news agency reports.

Sales (VAT excluded) of Lithuanian Direct Selling Association (LTPA), grew by 8.1% in 2013, to LTL 136 million (EUR 39 million). In 2012 it stood at LTL 126 million (EUR 36 million).