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Hungary in Austria | Hungarians in Vienna | Bilateral Relations
Austria and Hungary - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, investment, diplomacy, culture and tourism
Austrian Railways: Hope for RCA
Rail Cargo Austria, the freight division of Austrian Railways (ÖBB) seems to have achieved the turnaround. In 2010, RCA caused losses of € 67m.
March 10, 2012
Foreign Direct Investment in Austria Increasing
In 2011, a moderate decline in new enterprise settlements was registered. Investments grew by 34%.
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
Car Deal Pappas Achieves Growth in Hungary
The Austrian car dealer group could achieve sales of € 129.1m in Hungary. In spite of the economic crisis, sales climbed up by 12%.
March 3, 2012
Austrian Railways Looking for Partners
ÖBB (Austrian Railways) wants to re-launch its foreign markets with local partners. After 2008, ÖBB had to downsize operations abroad.
February 28, 2012
High Losses for Erste Group Expected
Although Erste Group has to report high losses for its financial year 2011, analysts are optimistic for 2012. Business in Romania and Hungary is expected to improve.
February 28, 2012
Merger of Nabucco-TANAP Discussed
Members of the gas pipeline projects Nabucco and TANAP talk about a merger in Vienna. The Turkish Minister of Energy participates therein.
February 28, 2012
Partial Nationalization of VBAG Planned
The financially stricken Austrian bank receives new capital. The Republic of Austria makes contributions of € 1.05bn. Bank taxes will increase.
February 27, 2012
Immofinanz to Become a „Property Machine“
CEO Eduard Zehetner wants Immofinanz to become a full developer, operator and seller of top-real estate objects. The company should be transformed to a “property machine.”
February 25, 2012
Hungary is Optimistic to Reach Agreement with IMF
The Hungarian ambassador in Vienna, Vince Szalay-Bobrovniczky is convinced to solve the current financial crisis soon. Hungary aims for re-gaining trust of investors.
February 25, 2012
Slight Growth Rates of Spar in CEE Region
For the first time, the Austrian supermarket chain´s sales totaled more than € 12.0bn in 2012. Sales growth amounted to 3.8%.
February 24, 2012
Baumax Faces Stagnation
The Austrian building center chain records declining sales in real terms in Austria. Growth rates are observed in Eastern Europe.
February 24, 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
Nabucco Still Competes For Gas in Azerbaijan
The gas pipeline project, in which the Austrian oil company OMV is engaged, now enters the critical phase.
February 21, 2012
Stepic Criticizes Rating Agencies Sharply
For Herbert Stepic, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), statements given by the U.S. rating agencies are “undifferentiated”.
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
Cernko: „Triple A Only in the Medium Term“
Bank Austria´s CEO Willibald Cernko does not think that Austria re-gains its “AAA” status within the next three years.
February 16, 2012
Bank Austria Writes Off Greek Bonds
The Austrian subsidiary of the Italian UniCredit Group has to write off Greek sovereign bonds by € 100m.
February 13, 2012
RBI: „Capital Increase is Pure Speculation“
The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International, which is said to plan a capital increase, points out that this information is a “pure rumor”.
February 9, 2012
Russian Natural Gas Supply to Normalize
According to the Austrian oil and gas company OMV, gas deliveries from Russia are increasing slightly.
February 8, 2012
Capital Increase at RBI?
According to market rumors, Raiffeisen Bank International is said to revisit € 1.00bn sale as shares rise.
February 8, 2012
Hungary: 160,000 Loan Takes Convert Foreign Currency Debt
According to the Hungarian Financial market authority, 142,000 Hungarian households repaid foreign currency debt. Further 19,000 are expected.
February 7, 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
VBI Sale: Closing Expected for Mid-February
The Russian Sberbank buys VBI from Austrian VBAG. The price totals € 505m.
February 6, 2012
Porr Extends Capital Increase
The Austrian construction group intends to restock its planned capital increase. The minimum volume is € 30m.
February 2, 2012
Losses in Hungary Keep Within a Limit
The deadline for the conversion of Hungarian foreign currency loans expired. Austrian banks think that their provisions are sufficient.
February 1, 2012
3E Group Grows in Eastern Europe
The Austrian building material company´s revenues were up by 3.2% in 2011. Total sales reached € 546m.
January 30, 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
Sberbank: € 500m for Austrian VBI
The Russian Sberbank officially bids € 500m for VBI, the subsidiary of Austrian VBAG.
January 26, 2012
RBI´s CEO Expects € 60m Losses in Hungary
Herbert Stepic, CEO of Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International, emphasizes to stay in Hungary. The foreign currency debt conversion causes severe losses.
January 26, 2012
Austrian Mercedes Production Endangered to Shift to Hungary
Construction of the SUV Mercedes G-class could switch from the Magna factory in Graz to Hungary.
January 24, 2012
Central Bank Act: Orban Gives In
Hungary waives the planned merger of the Central Bank and the Financial Market Authority. Yesterday, Austria´s Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Orban in Budapest.
January 21, 2012
Turkey Emphasizes Support for Nabucco
Besides the Russian South-Stream project, Turkey also shows support for Nabucco, where Austrian OMV is strongly engaged in.
January 21, 2012
New Record in Agricultural Exports
In 2011, Austrian food exports exceeded € 9.0bn for the first time.
January 21, 2012
Austrian Banks Hold € 18bn in Foreign Sovereign Bonds
At the end of October 2011, the exposure of Austrian banks in foreign sovereign bonds was € 18.1bn. The largest volumes are invested in Poland and Italy.
January 19, 2012
Treichl: „Erste Could Bear Hair Cut in Hungary“
Andreas Treichl, Erste Group´s CEO, is optimistic for Hungary. A withdrawal of Erste Group is not considered.
January 18, 2012
Porr: Capital Increase Flows Smoothly
According to Porr´s CEO Karl Heinz Strauss, the Austrian construction group raises ist capital within the next 60 days. Operating business is performing well, Strauss says.
January 16, 2012
Downgrade: „It´s Time to Take Action“
The downgrade of Austria´s rating from “AAA” to “AA+” caused mixed reactions. The Austrian economy urges for structural actions.
January 15, 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
Austria to Lose its AAA
According to partially confirmed market rumors, S&P will downgrade France and Austria.
January 13, 2012
Exit in Hungary Would be Expensive
In case of leaving the Hungarian market, Austrian banks would face enormous costs, says Citigroup.
January 13, 2012
Austrian Banks Must Downsize in Hungary
Erste Group and Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) must streamline their operations. Nevertheless, a further capital increase could become necessary.
January 12, 2012
Pressure on Hungary Increases
The chairman of the Austrian Central Bank, Ewald Nowotny, sees no danger for Austrian banks from Hungary. EU and IMF criticize the Hungarian government.
January 11, 2012
VIG Has „No Problems in Hungary“
“We are an insurance group and not a bank.”, said the management of Vienna Insurance Group. Nevertheless, the developments are observed thoroughly.
January 11, 2012
Slow Growth in CEE Expected
According to Raiffeisen Research, real GDP in CEE to grow by 2.0 per cent in 2012, while Austria set to post GDP decline of 0.5 per cent.
January 11, 2012
CA Immo Secures Refinancing for Project in Budapest
The Austrian real estate company CA Immo has agreed on refinancing for an office building in Budapest with Bank Austria. The investment totals € 27.0m.
January 10, 2012
Fitch: Austria´s AAA-Rating Not Endangered
According to the U.S. rating agency, the financial stability in Austria is still excellent. The bond auction today went well.
January 10, 2012
Hungarian Crisis: BIS Warns Austria Insistently
A collapse of the Hungarian economy would hit Austria very hard, says the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Austrian Banks have a high exposure.
January 9, 2012
Austrian Banks Have $ 41.0bn Exposure in Hungary
After another downgrade, a national bankruptcy of Hungary is not excluded anymore. Consequences for Austrian banks would not be foreseeable.
January 7, 2012
Hungary Becomes Fundamental Risk Factor for Austrian Banks
Over the last weeks, fears of a Hungarian bankruptcy grew drastically. The Hungarian Forint has reached a new record low.
January 5, 2012