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Leitl Vehemently Defends Euro Protection Shield

The President of the WKÖ (Austrian Federal Economic Chamber), Christoph Leitl, gives a clear answer to the euro critics: without the euro, Austria would have become a problematic case in 2009.

December 6, 2010

Failure of Austria's Software Industry

The President of the VÖSI, Peter Kotauczek, draws a sobering summary of the efforts of domestic software manufacturers.

December 6, 2010

Wikileaks: Criticism of Austrian Politicians by the U.S.

The critical view on Austria's leading politicians on part of the U.S. is written down in the recent revelations of the Wikileaks platform.

December 5, 2010

Vienna Airport Board Sees no Fault of Their Own

The controversial directors of Flughafen Wien (Vienna International Airport) defend themselves against public criticism of the construction project "Skylink".

December 5, 2010

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

Strike threat at AUA

Salary negotiations at Austrian Airlines falter. The staff wants at least a salary increase equivalent to inflation.

December 2, 2010

Bawag is Profitable Again

The Austrian bank Bawag PSK, now owned by the U.S. fund Cerberus, is to have profits again this year: € 100m are expected.

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

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

aws is Commited to the Promotion of Technology

The Austrian development bank aws (austria wirtschaftservice) provides staffing and strategic action steps in order to implement innovative and technological trends.

December 1, 2010

It Is Official: Deripaska Is Back at Strabag

Basic Element group exercises the call option for 17 percent stake in Strabag.

December 1, 2010

AUA is to Get New Leadership

Austrian Airlines, a Lufthansa subsidiary, is to get the Frenchman Thierry Antinori as its new CEO. The board is to be expanded with this appointment.

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

Massive Lay Offs at Hypo Group

The still ailing Carinthian bank restructures the leasing division. 500 jobs are being cut.

November 30, 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

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

ÖBB-CEO Kern Reconstructs Freight Division

After the decisions made about personnel, Kern wants to make the freight division profitable again. The group’s CEO has accorded himself three years for the process.

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

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

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

ÖBB: Changes in Freight Traffic Leadership

Because of poor results, the ÖBB CEO has to act on facts: The managers of the freight division are being replaced.

November 25, 2010

OMV Supervisory Board: Confirmation of Ruttenstorfer as CEO

Being accused to insider trading, the other members of the board as well as the supervisory board demonstrated to have confidence in CEO Dr. Wolfgang Ruttenstorfer.

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

Management Board of UNIQA Versicherungen AG as of 1 July 2011

The Supervisory Board of UNIQA AG decided to expand the Management Board to include Hartwig Löger, Wolfgang Kindl and Kurt Svoboda as of 1 July 2011.

November 23, 2010

CEO Streimelweger leaves S&T

After the difficulties of recent months CEO Thomas Streimelweger is leaving the Vienna Stock Exchange listed company.

November 23, 2010

Austria's Energy Consumption Falls

The energy consumption of Austria decreased in 2009 compared with the previous year by 4%. Mainly industry and transport reduced their consumption.

November 23, 2010

OMV's Supervisory Board Supports CEO Ruttenstorfer

The allegations of insider trading made by the Financial Market Authority are uncomprehensible, says member of the supervisory board Norbert Zimmermann.

November 23, 2010

Economic Chamber President Leitl Demands Financial Transaction Tax

There is consensus between the Presidents of the Economic Chamber and the Federation of Trade Unions.

November 23, 2010

Lufthansa-CEO Mayrhuber Moves to Infenion

Infineon Nominates Wolfgang Mayrhuber as Designated Supervisory Board Chairman and Appoints Dominik Asam as New Chief Financial Officer.

November 23, 2010

IHS: Capital Gains Tax on Securities is Absurd

The introduction of the capital gains tax on securities would encourage speculation rather than contain it, says IHS (Institute for Advanced Studies) Director Felderer. Private investors are the victims

November 22, 2010

Audit Court: Massive Criticism of Vienna International Airport

The Court expects significantly higher costs for Skylink than the airport itself. There are personal consequences.

November 19, 2010

UniCredit: Expansion to the Czech Republic, Poland and Turkey

UniCredit’s subsidiary Bank Austria functions as an Eastern Europe Holding. 40% of the net income of the group comes from the region by now.

November 19, 2010

Suspicion of Insider trading: Ruttenstorfer receives support

After the Vienna Public Prosecution's charges against OMV's CEO Ruttenstorfer, the latter now receives support. It is being said that he has merely been "clumsy".

November 18, 2010

Indonesia and Austria Agree to Extend Cooperation

President Fischer officially visited the Islamic Republic Indonesia, which is of the most important future markets of the South Asian region for Austria.

November 17, 2010

Industry Welcomes EU Energy Infrastructure Package

Secretary General of the Federation of Austrian Industrialists, Markus Beyrer: the package is also important to achieve energy and climate objectives.

November 17, 2010

A-Tec: New Hopes with Ronny Pecik?

Pecik, a former associate of Kovats might get again into A-Tec. Several years ago, the investors separated because of differences.

November 17, 2010

WKÖ: China Overtakes the U.S. as the Most Important Overseas Austrian Trade Partner

The volume of foreign trade (exports and imports) with China in the second third of the year was 5.6 billion euro compared to 5.1 billion euro with the U.S.

November 16, 2010

Hypo Tirol Regroups

The Tyrolean Hypo Bank AG is planning a new market direction, staff restructuring and financial consolidation.

November 16, 2010

OeNB Governor Nowotny "During the Crisis, the Euro Acted as a Protection Shield Beyond the Euro Area"

The Governor of the Austrian National Bank, Ewald Nowotny warns to fiscal discipline and talks about economic challenges and opportunities in Europe.

November 15, 2010

Traffic Expenditures: € 4.3bn less

As a consequence of the new budget, public infrastructure projects are being reduced considerably. Postponed projects and low-cost alternatives will save money.

November 12, 2010

S&T Denies Bankruptcy Petition

The Vienna Stock Exchange listed IT company provides S&T is facing widespread allegations. It has been rumored that the company is faced with a bankruptcy petition.

November 12, 2010

It is Official: Coalition Between SPÖ and Greens in Vienna

Vassilakou becomes Deputy Mayor under Häupl. The program aims to have a recognizable green handwriting.

November 12, 2010

Leitl: Austrians Go into Retirement Too Early

Those who go into early retirement in Austria are rewarded. The government should create more incentives to retire later on in life.

November 10, 2010

Sharp decline in Creation of New Foundations

In particular, legal uncertainty and abolished tax advantages cause the creation of fewer foundations in Austria.

November 10, 2010