In Brief: Liberal energy; tourists spend less; WSE follows Neuer Markt

In a move aimed at liberalizing the Polish energy sector, on Friday the Energy Regulation Office (URE) freed electricity prices traded on the energy exchange. The immediate effect of the move was limited, however, as some 70% of Poland's energy is sold under long-term contracts, rather than through the exchange. (Reuters).According to the Tourism Institute, foreign tourists are only spending an average of $145 during their visits to Poland this year, as compared with some $160 in 1999. (Rzeczpospolita, Dec. 16-17, p.B3).Next spring, the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) plans to launch Nowy Rynek, a new trading floor similar to Frankfurt's Neuer Markt, listing only new technology companies which keep their accounting books according to either International Accounting Standards (IAS) or U.S. GAAP standards. (Parkiet, p.1) T.J.