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Discussion over Insider Trading Among Austrian Leadership

Domestic insider trading regulations could be improved, imply top personalities of the Austrian economy. Radical proposals are also being made.

December 3, 2010

Michaelis Leaves Austria's State Holding Company

The contract of Peter Michaelis, Chairman of The State Holding Company OIAG, expires in June 2011. There is disagreement over the succession in the government.

December 3, 2010

Triple-A Rating: Treichl vs. Nowotny

The Chairman of the Erste Group is not convinced anymore by Austria's financial policy; the Governor of the National Bank however, still stands on "AAA".

December 3, 2010

Stable Recovery of Austrian Economy

The Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB, Austrial National Bank) is assuming a growth of the economy of 1.9% for 2010. Further acceleration is possible for subsequent years.

December 3, 2010

Equity Requirements of Austrian Banks are € 18 billion

Due to the new Basel III regulations, Austrian banks will need a much stronger capital base by 2019. The estimation is € 15 billion to € 18 billion.

December 2, 2010

U.S. Sees Money Laundering Activities at Austrian Banks

Wikileaks has published notes of the U.S. Embassy in Vienna. There were allegedly money exchanges between Austrian banks and criminals.

December 2, 2010

OMV CEO: Insider-process on January27

While the trial date for the CEO of OMV has already been set, many leading personalities express their trust in an open letter.

December 2, 2010

Mitterlehner: To Expand Further Good Trade Relations with Switzerland…

The Minister of Economy, after meeting with his Swiss counterpart, said: "Switzerland is the third most important export partner; new opportunities with eco-innovations should be profited from".

December 2, 2010

Zumtobel Announces Increasing Profits

Dynamic components business brings Austrian lighting group 60% increase in Profits. Revenues were up by 8%.

December 2, 2010

Doppelmayr: Slight decline in Sales but Good Result

Doppelmayr, The aerial and surface ropeway manufacturer from Vorarlberg underwent a slight drop in sales, but net income hasincrea sed significantly. Cautious optimism is being shown.

December 1, 2010

Austria's Industry Welcomes Electricity Reform

Whereas Industrialists and the Economic Chamber (WKO) are asking for enactment today, the Umweltdachverband (UWD, Environmental Federation) is against it.

December 1, 2010

Austria's Position in the CEE Region Shakes

According to the Roland Berger consultancy agency, Austria receives not only competition in the CEE countries, but the importance of the region also decreases from a global viewpoint.

December 1, 2010

Unemployment Continued to Decline in November

Both the number of unemployed and trainees show a decline.

December 1, 2010

Fabasoft in the Red

The Austrian software producer experiences slightly falling sales. Operating results are negative.

December 1, 2010

Extra-budgetary Debts Grow Unabated

Debt levels which are not attributed to the Austrian Federal Budget rise exorbitantly. Above all, the ÖBB and Asfinag are responsible.

November 30, 2010

Erste Group is Holding Repayment of Public Funds

The participation capital granted by the State following the bank crisis will only be paid back by the Erste Group after specifications of Basel III are set.

November 30, 2010

Carinthia Back on Growth Path

A business survey in Carinthia showed an increasingly positive image. Optimism is rising.

November 30, 2010

The Budget is Finally Set

After weeks of discussions about the 2011Austrian Federal Budget, the final details were announced today. There are very few amendments to the original project.

November 30, 2010

Industrialists: Destruction of Business Location Averted

The Industriellenvereinigung (IV, Industrialists Association) is relieved about issues concerning location policy, and at the same time calls for structural reforms.

November 30, 2010

Stable Results and Sales Growth for Swietelsky

The Upper Austrian construction company recorded a strong growth in sales (+7.1%) in the first half-year. Results only vary slightly.

November 30, 2010

Salary Increase in Trade up to 2.3%

Low incomes are taken more into account than higher salaries; the minimum wage in trade now amounts to € 1,300.

November 30, 2010

Globalization Study: Vienna Among Top 20 Cities

New York remains at the top of the ranking of the "Global City Index 2010" by A.T. Kearney. Vienna stays unchanged at 18th place.

November 30, 2010

EU Growth Forecast: Austria Slightly Over Average

The EU Commission has revised its growth forecast for 2011 slightly upwards. Austria stays at 1.7% in the above average area.

November 30, 2010

Strong Sales Growth in Goods Production and Construction

According to Statistik Austria, sales growth in goods production was 14.3%. Orders for the construction industry decline however.

November 30, 2010

Carinthia Strengthens Relations with China

The Carinthian Economic Chamber President, Franz Pacher, has signed a bilateral trade agreement with the Beijing Economic Chamber.

November 29, 2010

OeNB Governor Nowotny Approves of Ireland Protection Measures

The governor of the Austrian National Bank says the decisions on Ireland and the European stability mechanism are positive.

November 29, 2010

Leitl: Finland and Austria Have Much to Learn From Each Other

Finnish ex-Prime Minister Lipponen exposes economic success secrets of his country.

November 29, 2010

Strabag Records Small Decrease in Sales

EBITDA was up by 8% to € 476m, EBIT up by 10% to € 193 m. EPS rises by 5% from € 0.90 to € 0.95.

November 29, 2010

Renewable Energy: Great Potential, but Halted by Politicians

The Umweltdachverband (UWD, Environmental Federation) criticizes sharply the energy policy of the Austrian Government. Investments are made mainly in obsolete technologies

November 29, 2010

WIFO: Budget Consolidation in the EU is Not Sustainable

WIFO criticizes the consolidation programs of the individual EU countries for being easily enforceable, but containing hardly any sustainable measures.

November 29, 2010

Government Adapts Capital Gains Tax on Securities

Taxation will be implemented from October 1; loss compensation is allowed. There are no essential changes however.

November 29, 2010

Kapsch TrafficCom Increases Revenues by 85%

In contrast to negative earnings in FY10-H1, Kapsch TrafficCom Group, listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange, recorded clearly positive earnings in FY11-H1.

November 26, 2010

Uniqa Records Sharp Rise in Premiums and Profit

Premiums went up by 10.2% to €4,655 m. Life insurance drives growth, with premiums up by 18.7% Profit increases by 142.7% to €103 m.

November 26, 2010

Is the Austrian Industry still competitive?

The chief economist of the Industriellenvereinigung (IV), Christian Helmenstein, draws a sobering picture on the future of the domestic industry.

November 26, 2010

Vienna International Airport: Decisions on Personnel are Postponed

The previously rumored change of leadership at Vienna International Airport is not taking place yet. There is time until mid-December for the board, highly criticized because of Skylink.

November 26, 2010

WKÖ’s Secretary General Advocates for Educational and Administrative Reform

Young people have to be trained practically to meet the challenges of the future. An administrative reform should not be foregone, said Hochhauser.

November 25, 2010

Risk Exposure of Austrian Banks: € 32 billion

The volume that Austria's banks hold at the moment in the altogether not risk-free PIIGS countries (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece), is € 32 billion.

November 25, 2010

Leitl Vehemently Asks the Government for Structural Reforms

The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber (WK), Christoph Leitl, call on the government for location and future investments.

November 25, 2010

Kneissl: Bankruptcy Application Possible Despite Capital Increase

The traditional Tyrolean ski manufacturer Kneissl is possibly facing lawsuits and bankruptcy applications.

November 25, 2010

Europe's Public Debt and Unemployment Remain High

Austrian Institute of Economic Research: The revival of the EU states, driven by expansionary economic policies and export growth, is ebbing.

November 25, 2010

Vienna International Airport: Strong Growth in Profits and Passengers

The Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien) could increase its EBIT by 15%, passengers have risen by 8.3% to 14.87m.

November 25, 2010

Hirsch Servo Still Records Losses

Sales were up by 27% in the first quarter. Hirsch already experiences an upward trend, the turnaround is expected in 2011.

November 25, 2010

S Immo Records Profits Again

Vienna-based Sparkassen Immobilien AG records a successful operating performance in the first three quarters of 2010 after the weak year 2009.

November 25, 2010

CA Immo Returns Back to Black

CA Immo presents its Q3 Results: strong increase in EBIT to € 134.6m (2009: € -6.1m), net income grew to € 13.5m (2009: € -78.3m).

November 25, 2010

Walter Grahammer Becomes the New Austrian Ambassador in Brussels

Previously, Grahammer acted as Head in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

November 24, 2010

Audit Court: Capital Increase for Vienna Airport

The Audit Court criticizes the Board again and advises a capital increase. The personal consequences may be tougher than expected yet.

November 24, 2010

AMS: Temporary Employment Will Continue to Rise

The Chairman of the Board of the AMS (Public Employment Service), Johannes Kopf, believes that the international trend of increasing temporary employment will also take root in Austria.

November 24, 2010

Wiener Privatbank SE Announces Q1-Q3 2010 Results

Wiener Privatbank records slightly decreasing results

November 24, 2010

Conwert Announces Q1-Q3 2010 Results

The Vienna-based real estate company records a good business development and a significant increase in earnings.

November 24, 2010

SW Umwelttechnik Announces Q1-Q3 2010 Results

The Vienna Stock Exchange-listed company, SW Umwelttechnik, was able to increase its turnover by 15 % to € 54.2m compared to the previous year when it reached € 47.0m.

November 24, 2010