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Austria and the Czech Republic - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, diplomacy and culture
Bank Austria as UniCredit´s Cash Cow
Without Bank Austria, UniCredit would have been in the loss area. The CESEE region is still Bank Austria´s future market.
August 4, 2012
Czech Republic: Erste Group´s CEO Advises Against Introducing the Euro
According to Andreas Treichl, the Czech Republic should not enter the Eurozone now.
August 2, 2012
Erste Group: Concerns Despite Profits
Yesterday, the Austrian banking group published its results for the first half year. The business in Romania, Hungary and Ukraine causes worries.
August 1, 2012
CESEE: Still High Degree of Corruption
According to Transparency International, „political influence over independent institutions is a systemic corruption risk in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia“.
July 31, 2012
OMV: No Withdrawal from Germany
The Austrian oil company and petrol station operator will not sell the petrol station business in Germany. By contrast, the downsizing program in the SEE region and in the Czech Republic will be continued.
July 19, 2012
„No Austerity Measures in the Czech Republic“
The Vienna Institute for International Studies underlines that the Czech Republic´s financial situation is very stable at the moment. Austerity policies would not be required.
July 11, 2012
IMF: New Central and Eastern European Constituency
Austria, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Turkey have established a Central and Eastern European Constituency at the International Monetary Fund.
July 11, 2012
Purchasing Power in CEE Region: Czech Republic Ranks First
Among Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Bratislava records the biggest regional purchasing power. In total, the Czech Republic ranks first.
July 7, 2012
Austria Remains One of the Biggest CESEE Investors
Austria is still an important net investor in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. However, the global importance of the region did not increase.
July 6, 2012
CEE Defies Turbulences in the Eurozone
GDP in CEE expected to grow 2.6 per cent in 2012 – eurozone expected to shrink by 0.3 per cent. Growth forecast for Austria’s GDP at 0.7 per cent in 2012
July 5, 2012
Czech Republic: OMV Withdraws, MOL Expands
The Hungarian oil and gas group purchased 124 petrol stations in the Czech Republic. The Austrian OMV continues its downsizing strategy.
July 4, 2012
Boom in New Listings at Prague Stock Exchange
The CEESEG member Prague Stock Exchange is pleased about new listings despite the current economic crisis.
July 2, 2012
Energochemica Enters the Prague Stock Exchnage
Energochemcia SE officially announced its intention to enter the Prague Stock Exchange (PSE). The company wants to focus on acquisitions of key energy and chemical industry companies.
June 29, 2012
Credit Crunch in CESEE?
Anglo-Saxon banks and funds are most aggressive in deleveraging; Austrian bank are not relying on funding from countries in hotspots of deleveraging.
June 27, 2012
Schwarzenberg: „Czech Republic Should be Europe´s Hard Core“
The Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs thinks that the Czech Republic should be among the EU´s core nations. This would be the only useful alternative for the country, Schwarzenberg says.
June 26, 2012
Treichl: „Europe Does Not Need the Euro“
Andreas Treichl, CEO of Austrian Erste Group thinks that the European Union would work very well without the common currency. A common army would be more important.
June 25, 2012
CESEE Banks: Small Exposure in Southern Europe
The riskiness of assets held by CESEE banks is manageable, the U.S. rating agency Fitch says. The CESEE region has closer links to Western Europe than to Southern Europe.
June 20, 2012
„There´s no Crisis in Eastern Europe“
Austrian economists and bankers do not comprehend the downgrade by Moody´s. The risk in Eastern Europe would be more differentiated, OeNB´s governor Nowotny said.
June 8, 2012
CEE Banking Sector „Performs Well“
The Austrian Raiffeisen Centrobank sees high-growth potential in the CESEE region. Loan growth is at „healthy levels“, there are „no signs of a credit crunch“.
June 6, 2012
Massive Gap in Purchasing Power
Purchasing Power Parities 2012: Higher travel costs for overseas destinations; Austrians' purchasing power 40–70% above the level in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary.
May 21, 2012
Improved Business Atmosphere in CESEE Region
According to a survey by OeKB (Oesterreichische Kontrollbank), expectations of investors are beyond the level of January. Austrian exports to the CESEE region may increase.
May 4, 2012
OMV´s Petrol Stations: Potential Buyers in Sight
The Austrian oil and gas company OMV plans to sell its petrol stations in Croatia and Bosnia. Local investors show interest.
April 17, 2012
Goldman Sachs: Too Small Margins at Austrian Banks in CEE
The U.S. investment bank is optimistic that the CEE region recovers in 2013. The write-offs made by Austrian banks were “correct”.
April 16, 2012
Kapsch: Critique by Czech Republic
The toll collection system in the Czech Republic is more expensive in Austria or Germany, the Czech audit authority alleges.
April 14, 2012
Lutz Continues Expansion Program
The world´s second largest furniture house intends to grow in Eastern and Southeastern Europe.
April 7, 2012
EStAG Reports Moderate Rise in Earnings
The Styrian energy supplier Energie Steiermark AG could raise revenues by 9.0% to 1.37bn. Operating profits were down, though.
March 30, 2012
“The Czech Republic Has Traditionally Been an Important Partner for Austria”
Austrian State Secretary Waldner meets Czech EU State Secretary Belling.
March 19, 2012
Ghizzoni: „Austrian Bank Tax Is Painful“
The Chief Executive Officer of UniCredit, the holding company of Bank Austria emphasizes not to sell the Austrian subsidiary. The bank tax is “unfair”.
March 10, 2012
Imports Grow Stronger than Exports
January to December 2011: Austrian imports rose by 15%, exports increased by 12%.
March 9, 2012
RBI Optimizes Its Structure of Participations
EBA decides not to recognize privately placed participation capital. RZB Group will nevertheless meet the EBA target, the bank argues.
March 8, 2012
Uniqa Aims for Growth in CESEE Region
The Austrian insurance group wants to sell stakes by the minority shareholders of subsidiaries in Eastern Europe. The capital increase is scheduled for 2013.
March 5, 2012
Eder: „Environmental Policy Endangers Economy“
Voestalpine´s CEO criticizes environmental specifications made by EU and domestic politics. Eder sees the danger of a de-industrialization.
March 5, 2012
Gigasport Withdraws from Czech Republic and Slovakia
The Austrian sports brand closes twelve branches in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. 280 workers are affected.
March 1, 2012
Immofinanz Group Develops Office Building in Prague
The Austrian real estate group makes an investment of 24.6m in the Czech Republic. The project will be finalized in 2013.
February 29, 2012
Polytec Aims For Expanding in Asia
Friedrich Huemer, CEO of the Austrian automotive supplier, wants to start investments in China and India.
February 27, 2012
CSC Establishes its CEE Headquarters in Vienna
The U.S. IT service supplier CSC upgrades the Viennese subsidiary as regional headquarters for ten countries.
February 22, 2012
Erste Group Manages Issue of Czech Republic € 2.0bn Bond
The Austrian bank observed good demand for the Czech sovereign bonds offering: total orders of approx. € 3.5bn from over 190 investors.
February 22, 2012
Prague Stock Exchange and CCP.A to Cooperate
Prague Stock Exchange (PSE) and Austrian clearing house Central Counterparty Austria (CCP.A) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the cooperation in cash markets.
February 20, 2012
Sberbank Upgrades VBI´s Headquarter in Vienna
After the acquisition of the Austrian VBI, the Russian bank wants to expand massively in Europe.
February 20, 2012
SLR Group Plans Major Increase in Sales
The Austrian foundry company expects to realize sales of 60m in 2011/12. In the first half year, sales were up by 24%.
February 9, 2012
CEE Countries with Bigger Space for Higher Bond Yields
Romania, Czech Republic and Slovakia with biggest room for manoeuvre in case yields would spike; Hungary should avoid financing at +6%, says Erste Group.
February 6, 2012
Lutz Enters Croatia
The Austrian furniture store group opens its largest center in the SEE region. Market leader Ikea follows in autumn 2012.
January 26, 2012
Oberbank Satisfied with 2011 Results
The Austrian Oberbank achieved “excellent“ results last year, CEO Gasselsberger stated. Profits were up by 5.5%.
January 17, 2012
Treichl Does Not Expect Hungarian National Insolvency
In spite of a large exposure in Hungary, Andreas Treichl, Erste Group´s CEO is optimistic. By 2014, Erste Group Hungary should be profitable again.
January 14, 2012
CEE Investments Recommended
According to Erste Group, equities to become more attractive in 2012 compared to 2011. Turkey is seen as highly interesting investment location.
January 4, 2012
Uniqa´s Czech Subsidiary Beats Market Growth
The Czech subsidiary of the Austrian insurance group achieved an 11% premium income growth, which is significantly beyond the market growth (1.8%).
January 3, 2012
RZB Issued Participation Capital
The Austrian banking group optimizes its structure by acquiring shareholdings in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
December 30, 2011
Emco With Growth Plans
The new owner of the former A-Tec subsidiary, now can begin to realize its expansion plans.
December 27, 2011
Record-Breaking Start of Tourism Winter Season
Austria’s tourism industry registered 3.98 million overnights in November. Arrivals rose by 3.5%.
December 23, 2011
Bank Austria Reviews Strategy for CEE
In its expansion strategy, the bank focuses on four countries. Plans for Hungary and Romania are stopped, up to 450 jobs will be cut.
December 17, 2011
