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Bank Austria: “Russia is Still Profitable”

According to Vice CEO of Bank Austria and head of business operations in CEE Gianni Franco Papa, business in Russia is not yet affected by the political crisis in Crimea.

May 2, 2014

Austria: Hypo Group Investigation Committee to be Established?

Will the Austrian government soon give in to establishing an investigation committee for problem bank Hypo Group?

May 2, 2014

Fitch Upgrades Rating for Slovenia

Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook on Slovenia's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) to Stable from Negative and affirmed the IDRs at 'BBB+'.

May 2, 2014

New Serbian Government Wants Speedy EU Accession

The new Serbian government is determined to accelerate the EU accession progress.

May 2, 2014

Austria: Hypo Reveals Profit Losses

The Austrian branch of Hypo Bank, which was privatized last December and is going to be renamed to Austrian Anadi Bank, has published the annual financial report for the year 2013.

April 30, 2014

Austria Gives up Bank Secret for United States

Austria and the US have signed an agreement for the exchange of fiscal data. However, the agreement could be renewed soon.

April 30, 2014

Hypo Group Further Losses to Be Expected

Huge losses by the sale of the SEE banking network could be expected.

April 30, 2014

Immofinanz: Changes at Executive Board

Immofinanz – Dietmar Reindl appointed to the Executive Board

April 30, 2014

Situation for Austrian Banks in Russia is “Sensitive”

According to the latest statistics, Austrian banks are considerably more engaged in Russia than assumed so far. Debts to domestic financial institutes amount to € 50bn.

April 29, 2014

Slovenia: Early Elections Announced

Contrary to the expectations Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek will remain in office after her defeat in the power struggle with party member of Positive Slovenia (PS) Zoran Jankovic.

April 29, 2014

Spindelegger: “Arsonists Are to Blame Not Fire Brigade”

The downsizing of ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria is a heavy burden for this year’s budget. According to Finance Minister Spindelegger, the deficit comes at 2.7 percent of GDP while public debts will soar.

April 29, 2014

Future of Slovenian Government Still Uncertain

Early elections expected to be held in the fall.

April 29, 2014

Austrian Banking Sector Making Losses

For the first time in 2013, the Austrian banks made losses in the amount of € 1.035bn.

April 29, 2014

Hypo Group: Huge Burden for Austrian Budget

The downsizing of problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria is a huge burden for this year’s budget.

April 29, 2014

Slovenia: ”Everything Will Stand Still”

Due to the current political crisis the fear about devastating impacts on the Slovenian economy is high.

April 28, 2014

Serbia: New Government Taking Drastic Measures

New head of the Serbian government Aleksandar Vucic has ambitious plans to reform the state and restructure state finances.

April 28, 2014

Real Estate: Buwog Shares Taking Off

The highly anticipated primary listing of residential real estate affiliate of listed Immofinanz, Buwog, will be completed on Monday.

April 28, 2014

„Brussels Must Reconsider Enlargement Policy“

Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz criticized the EU´s approach towards Ukraine. However, the EU has to develop further.

April 25, 2014

Poland Fears War in Ukraine

According to Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Poland should prepare for the worst case in Ukraine.

April 25, 2014

Austrian Public Debt Almost at 80% of GDP

The Austrian public debt burden will reach a new all-time high at the end of the current year. The challenging fiscal situation is partly attributable to the capital injections into Hypo Group Alpe Adria.

April 24, 2014

Do Taxes Justify a Relocation of Business?

Tax sensitive business operations should be relocated to other areas if necessary, according to the head of Erste Bank Austria.

April 24, 2014

Buwog Soon to be Listed at Three Stock Exchanges

Immofinanz‘ residential real estate affiliate Buwog will celebrate its IPO at the stock exchanges in Frankfurt and Vienna on Monday, April 28 and in Warsaw on Tuesday, April 29.

April 24, 2014

Austria: Difficult Market Situation for Selling Bawag

The selling of Bawag PSK proves difficult for its owner which is why an IPO is considered a realistic phasing-out scenario. However, experts doubt that an IPO will be a “highflyer”.

April 24, 2014

Eder: Policy-Makers Have to Make Decisions

Wolfgang Eder, CEO of Austrian steel manufacturer voestalpine, claims not to have heard anything from the Austrian policy makers after he raised criticizm with regard to the Austrian business location.

April 24, 2014

Serbia: “Huge Challenges Ahead”

President Tomislav Nikolic appointed Aleksandar Vucic to form a new Serbian government.

April 23, 2014

Austria: Bawag to Go Public?

Bawag PSK is likely to go public, as reported by Bloomberg.

April 23, 2014

Austria: Calls for Reduction of Bureaucracy Become Louder

Bureaucratic hurdles burden the Austrian enterprises the most apart from taxes and other levies.

April 23, 2014

Serbia: Key Rate Kept Unchanged.

The NBS (National Bank of Serbia) decided to keep the policy rate unchanged as there is no threat of inflation.

April 22, 2014

Austria: Hypo Commission Costs Less than Anticipated

Irmgard Griss, head of the investigation commission appointed by the Finance Ministry with regard to Hypo Group Alpe Adria’s nationalization, announced wanting to leave the decision about the costs with the government.

April 22, 2014

Poland: VAT Likely to be Reduced

As announced by Polish Finance Minister Mateusz Szczurek, the government plans on cutting the VAT rate to 22 percent in 2017.

April 22, 2014

Serbia: EU Negotiations Important for Reforms

According to Tanja Miscevic, chief negotiator in Serbia’s EU accession talks, the opening of the Chapters 23 and 24 are crucial for the reform process in the Western Balkan country.

April 22, 2014

Eder: Austrian Industrial Location Not Attractive Anymore

Austria may lose one of its most important industrial flagships. Wolgang Eder, CEO of the Vienna-listed steel manufacturer voestalpine threatens to leave Austria.

April 18, 2014

Austria: Branch Network of Raiffeisen Shrinking

Because of the high number of mergers, the number of branch shops of Raiffeisen Group is dropping. However, the Austrian lender still has a market share of 43 percent.

April 18, 2014

Serbia: PM Nominated Next Week

The Serbian President will nominate the new Prime Minister on Tuesday, April 22.

April 18, 2014

Hypo Group: Italian Branch Turns Out a Huge Problem

According to CEO Picker there were more “skeletons in the closet than expected” which led to huge losses for the ailing bank. The Italian network may have to be downsized.

April 17, 2014

Slovenia: “Worst Thing if Nobody Dare Do Anything”

Finance Minister Cufer stressed that financial institutes needed stable guidance and confidence to continue their restructuring paths.

April 17, 2014

Austria: RLB OÖ Still Threatening to Leave

According to managing director of Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich (RLB OÖ) Heinrich Schaller, the tax burden is too high in Austria. The bank is still threatening to leave for Germany if the bank levy will not be changed.

April 17, 2014

Poland: Excessive Deficit Procedure for Two More Years

The Polish government expects the EU Commission to cancel the Excessive Deficit Procedure in “less than two years” due to the measures applied so far the continuing of economic recovery.

April 16, 2014

Industrial Location Austria Losing Attractiveness

Among other things, labor costs and energy prices are too high, according to the Austrian Federation of Industries.

April 16, 2014

Austria: RLB OÖ Rows Bank on Threat to Leave

Last year regional lender RLB OÖ (Raiffeisen Landesbank Oberösterreich), part of Raiffeisen group, saw a decline of six percent in its balance sheet totals while the operating results increased by almost three percent.

April 16, 2014

Slovakia as a Role Model?

In an interview with Austrian daily “Wirtschaftsblatt”, Tomas Malatinsky, Economy Minister of Slovakia, talked about budget discipline, investments and tax policy.

April 16, 2014

Serbian New Government More Efficient and Modern

The presidency of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which gained a landslide victory in the recent parliamentary elections, has decided to create a coalition with the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM).

April 15, 2014

Fricke: “Man Needs Relatively Little Bank”

Fricke, chief economist at the European Climate Foundation and author of “Wie viel Bank braucht der Mensch?" (How much bank does man need?)

April 15, 2014

Serbia: “Radical Measures” Needed to Tackle Grey Economy

Experts call for higher penalties to make tax evasion and gray economy less profitable and establish financial discipline.

April 14, 2014

“Bank Rescue is a Crime”

Martin Ehrenhauser, leading candidate of the Austrian electorial alliance “Europa Anders”, which is running for the EU elections, has voiced harsh criticism about the saving of financial institutes.

April 14, 2014

Poland: No Tax Hike Required

According to Poland’s Finance Minister, a tax increase is not required this year.

April 14, 2014

Slovenia: Head of NLB Throws in Towel

On Friday France Ahar, President of the supervisory board of the biggest lender of Slovenia, state-controlled NLB, handed in his resignation.

April 14, 2014

„We Must Create A Free Trade Area with Russia“

Sebastian Kurz, Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, proposes a deepening of the economic co-operation between Russia and the EU.

April 12, 2014

Raiffeisen Branch to Leave Austria?

One of the provincial units of Raiffeisen Group, regional lender Raiffeisen Landesbank Oberösterreich (RLB OÖ), is considering relocating its headquarters to Germany.

April 11, 2014

Serbia’s Goal to Join EU until 2020 “Realistic”

According to former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Serbia’s aim to become a member of the European Union until 2020 is realistic.

April 11, 2014