Vienna International Business News | Economic | Investment | Financial

Get the latest business news and analysis on the Austrian economy, including news on economic policies, foreign trade, financial developments and investments

Tax Returns Take 170 Hours

In order to settle their tax duties, Austrian companies have to take much time compared to other EU members.

December 13, 2011

Austria Fifth Richest Country in EU

GDP per capita in the Member States ranged from 44% to 271% of the EU27 average in 2010. Austria´s figure amounts to 126%.

December 13, 2011

Moderate Passenger Increase at Vienna International Airport

Vienna Airport reports a 4.8% increase in passengers during November 2011. Cargo decreased drastically.

December 13, 2011

Infineon to Invest in Austria

In spite of the weak economic forecasts, the German semiconductor producer wants to invest further in the Austrian business location.

December 12, 2011

Debt Brake: Government Tries Again

In order to install the „debt brake“ into the constitution, the Austrian government tries again to persuade the opposition parties.

December 12, 2011

€ 230m Capital Increase at Hypo Tirol

The province of Tyrol, the owner of Hypo Tirol, decided to strengthen the bank´s capital base. From where the funds will be provided, is not clear yet.

December 12, 2011

Austrian Railways: Losses Amount to € 28.0m

The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) could reduce its expected losses for 2011. Operating results could be positive.

December 12, 2011

Mitterlehner Pushes for more Venture Capital

The Austrian Minister of Economics, Reinhold Mitterlehner wants to increase efficiency and reduce redundancies in economic subsidies.

December 10, 2011

Austria´s Industry Supports Croatia´s EU Accession

The Austrian Chamber of Commerce sees a huge interest of the domestic economy in Croatia´s EU accession. In 2010, Austria was the largest investor.

December 10, 2011

Moderate Increase in Passengers for AUA

Austrian Airlines Traffic Result: 4.9 percent more passengers in November. From January to November, the airline recorded an increase by 2.9 percent in passengers in total network.

December 9, 2011

Lack in Know-How for Investments

For 91% of the Austrians the topics investments and finance are too complex. A lack in transparency is obviously the problem.

December 9, 2011

Only 0.3% GDP Growth in Third Quarter

The Austrian GDP stagnates, which is due to decrease in domestic consumption. The only positive impetus comes from the export industry.

December 9, 2011

Nowotny Attacks EBA

The Governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), Ewald Nowotny, criticizes the high speed which EBA requires from banks to build up equity capital.

December 9, 2011

Miba Continues Growth Path

In the first three quarters, the automotive component supplier could record an increase in sales by 37%. EBIT was up by 22.1%.

December 9, 2011

Reduced, But Still High Shortfall at Austrian Banks

EBA shortfall for RZB Group set at approximately € 2.1bn, for Erste Group at € 0.74bn. However, the initial shortfalls were reduced for RZB.

December 8, 2011

Austrian Post: Privatization Is Not Planned

The trade union of post employees wants to lower the dividends. Privatization plans have not been discussed yet.

December 8, 2011

Austria Considers to Employ South Europeans

Especially the tourism and the construction industries are ready to take on high-skilled workers from Spain, Greece or Portugal.

December 8, 2011

Austrian „Debt Brake“ Resolved

Due to the lack in approval by the opposition parties, the „debt brake“ will only be resolved as a simple act.

December 8, 2011

Telekom Austria: “Hyperinflation Accounting” Applicable in Belarus

The Austrian telecommunication group will have to make inflation adjustments for its local subsidiary Velcom.

December 8, 2011

Rating Agencies Are Seen As Threat

The governor of the Austrian Central Bank, Ewald Nowotny, attacks S&P. For the head of the economic research institute IHS, Bernhard Felderer, the negative outlook must be seen as a warning signal.

December 7, 2011

Slow Progress in Transport Industry

The Austrian transport sector recovered in 2011. However, 2012 is expected to become a difficult year. Goods traffic declined drastically between 2006 and 2010.

December 7, 2011

Economic Stability: Austria Occupies Top Rank

According to a study by Allianz, Austria has the third rank among the EU countries.

December 7, 2011

Hypo Tirol Needs Capital Increase

The Tyrolean bank suffers from a low equity capital quota. After major write-offs in Italy, the core capital amounts to 5.8%.

December 7, 2011

Unchanged Upward Trend for Wholesale Prices

The Austrian wholesale price index in November 2011 was up by 5.5% against November 2010.

December 7, 2011

Rising Finance Requirements Due to Increase in Investments

According to the Erste Bank’s forecast on savings and loans, the average financing amount in Austria amounts to € 81,800.

December 7, 2011

Austrian Foreign Trade Deficit on the Rise

From January to September 2011: imports rose by 17%, exports increased by 14%. The deficit amounts to € 6.0bn.

December 7, 2011

„Debt Brake“: Critcism Against Opposition

After the “debt brake” has failed, the President of the Chamber of Commerce Christoph Leitl, Finance Minister Fekter and the Federal President Fischer criticize the three opposition parties.

December 6, 2011

Women´s Income Below Men

In Austria, the annual income of women is still considerably below men. However, this is mainly due to part time work. Male employees in private sector are top earners.

December 6, 2011

Increasing Gap in Incomes

Although Austria´s Gini coefficient is relatively low, the gap between high and low incomes becomes larger.

December 6, 2011

S&P: Negative Outlook for Austria

The rating agency Standard & Poor´s gives a negative outlook to all triple-A countries in the EU.

December 6, 2011

Only Small Increase in Exports in 2012

After a substantial growth in 2011, OECD expects only a slight rise in Austrian exports.

December 6, 2011

Zumtobel Registers Profits Decrease

The Austrian light technology company reports an increase in revenues by 8.4% in the first half year. EBIT was down by 10.1%

December 6, 2011

Opposition Not Convinced: „Debt Brake“ Fails

The Austrian government´s plans to introduce a “debt brake” in the constitution has failed. The three opposition parties are against the idea.

December 5, 2011

Trade and Service Sectors Report Loss in Dynamics

Turnover development of Austrian trade and service enterprises slows down.

December 5, 2011

Further Write-Offs at Hypo Tirol Possible

The Tyrolean bank could make further write-offs in 2012. Non-performing loans of € 30m in Italy are still in the books.

December 5, 2011

Up to 3.36% Salary Increase for Civil Servants

Salaries for Austrian civil servants will increase by 2.68% to 3.36%. The government and the union came to an agreement on Sunday.

December 5, 2011

Austrian Industry Supports Audit Court

For the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), the administration has to be reformed immediately. Future investments are needed instead of administrative expenses.

December 5, 2011

Hypo Group: € 3.0bn Debts at BayernLB

The nationalized Hypo Group is still massively indebted at its former holding company, the German BayernLB. The loan will be due by the end of 2013.

December 3, 2011

Rising Finance Requirements for Austria

In 2012, the Austrian state has to take on significantly more debt than this year. The issued bond volume will grow by 30%.

December 3, 2011

Zumtobel: Analysts Expect Decline in Results

The Austrian lighting manufacturer will record a decline in profits, but a rise in sales, analysts state.

December 3, 2011

Hypo Tirol Expects Loss of € 110m

The Austrian regional bank’s result will be impacted by major write-downs of non-performing loans in Italy.

December 2, 2011

Legal Success for Bank Austria

A Swiss court granted the bank’s appeal against an obligation to pay € 245m to a German public body.

December 2, 2011

Corruption in Austria Is Growing

Austria has lost six positions since 2005 and now only ranks 16 in Transparency International’s corruption index.

December 2, 2011

Declining Profit for Doppelmayr

The Austrian ropeway manufacturer achieved a slight plus in turnover. The group result dropped by 11%.

December 2, 2011

Austria to Issue More Bonds in 2012

Total issue volume will be € 27-30bn. At the end of November, Austria’s bond debt stood at € 162.9bn

December 2, 2011

Austria’s Population Exceeds 8.4 Million Inhabitants

The population has grown by 400,000 persons since 2001. The positive trend was observed in all federal states except Carinthia.

December 1, 2011

Austrian Industry Contracts Further

Bank Austria’s Purchasing Managers’ Index has fallen to the lowest level for two and a half years, reflecting a lack of new orders.

December 1, 2011

Porr Issues Profit Warning

The Austrian construction company has to write down € 90m of receivables due to problems in Eastern Europe. For next year, however, management is confident to see stable development.

December 1, 2011

Unemployment Up by 3.7% in November

More than 321,000 persons were registered with the Austrian Labor Market Service in November. The number of employed persons increased by 59,000.

December 1, 2011

Austria’s Unemployment Rate Is the Lowest in the EU

The EU27 unemployment rate was 9.8% in October, compared with 9.7% in September 2011 and 9.6% in October 2010

November 30, 2011