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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