Latest Headlines about other Business & Economic Developments

Read more headlines about Austria's international business environment (which are not covered in the other topics, including commodity and currency markets)

Polish Financial Market Proves Strong

The financial market in Poland is resistant towards negative impacts resulting from the current political crisis in neighbor country Ukraine.

March 5, 2014

Polish Currency Suffers from Instability in Ukraine

The Polish Zloty has become weaker because of the political instability in Ukraine.

February 28, 2014

Hungary: Customers Fleeced by Banks

For the first time in three years Hungarian commercial banks have returned to profitability. However, extra cost, caused by political circumstances, was passed on to clients.

February 26, 2014

CNB Not to Stop Monetary Interventions Just Yet

Exchange rates in the Czech Republic will not go back to the state before monetary interventions were carried out by CNB.

February 25, 2014

CEE Financial Markets under Pressure as Riots Continue in Ukraine

CEE markets under pressure as Ukraine violence heats up. Biggest direct risk to Polish Zloty, but also to Hungarian Forint and Romanian Leu.

February 21, 2014

Zeman: Entry in Eurozone Delayed

In a speech to the Lower House ahead of the vote in confidence for the new government Czech President Milos Zeman expressed his dissatisfaction over the latest monetary intervention by the Czech National Bank (CNB).

February 19, 2014

Romania: Fit for Eurozone?

According to estimates by the Romanian government, the country is fit for joining the single currency union.

February 17, 2014

Austrians Prefer Real Estates as Safe Investment Form

Around two third of Austrian investors prefer safe form of investment like real estates and properties.

February 14, 2014

Singer: “Forex Interventions Were Right Measures”

Miroslav Singer, Governor of the Czech National Bank (CNB), considers the forex intervention and the weakening of the Czech Crown as the right measures in the light of the most recent inflation figures.

February 13, 2014

Hungarian National Bank: Market Manipulation Caused Fall in Forint

Hungary´s currency is under pressure again. In the last few weeks, the Forint has fallen substantially against the euro.

February 5, 2014

Croatia: Monetary Interventions to Stabilize Kuna

On Friday the Croatian national bank sold € 240.2m to commercial banks.

January 31, 2014

Hungary: Stable Economy, Weak Currency

According to Prime Minister Orban the volatility of the Hungarian Forint is based on global factors.

January 31, 2014

Poland: NBP Sees No Reason for Weakening Zloty

According to Eugeniusz Gatnar, board manager of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), there was no fundamental reason for monetary intervention.

January 30, 2014

Euro-Introduction: Cutting Debts Precondition for Poland

Finance Minister Mateusz Szczurek stressed that cutting debts was a key condition for Poland before it could be admitted to the single currency union.

January 29, 2014

Restrained Optimism in Polish Financial Market

According to Finance Minister Szczurek, the Polish Financial Market will have to face another challenging year.

January 27, 2014

CNB: Significant Increase in Profits

Due to the forex interventions in November last year, the Czech National Bank (CNB) was able to increase its results.

January 13, 2014

Romania: Slight Increase in FX Reserves

In December 2013 FX reserves increased slightly compared to the previous month.

January 7, 2014

Czech Governor Awarded Banker of the Year 2014

Miroslav Singer, governor of the Czech National Bank (CNB) was given the Central Banker of the Year 2014 award for Europe by The Banker.

January 3, 2014

Eurozone: Number of Bank Credits Keeps Declining

The financial institutes in the Eurozone have been cutting back on granting credits. The lending for both business corporations and private persons has dropped by 2.3 percent.

January 3, 2014

Serbia: National Bank Cuts Key Policy Rate

The NBS decided to cut key interest rate by half a percentage point as inflation remains on the lower target tolerance band.

December 18, 2013

Czech Republic: Lowest Increase in Public Debts in 17 Years

According to the government’s Funding and Debt Management Strategy, public debt should exceed CZK 2,000bn by the end of 2016.

December 17, 2013

Hungary: Good News for Banks in Forex Proceedings

Banks operating in Hungary can feel relieved by the Supreme Court’s judgement.

December 16, 2013

Hungary: Stable Outlook Yet Still Junk Status

In spite of Matolcsy, governor of the Hungarian National Bank (MNB), demanding a better rating for the country’s credibility, the major rating agencies have not raised them.

December 12, 2013

Czech Republic: Banking Sector Proves Stable

According to the latest results of the bank stress test by the Czech National Bank (CNB), the domestic financial institutes remain resistant to a potential negative development.

December 12, 2013

Ten Capital Market Themes for 2014 by Raiffeisenbank

Leading indicators show a recovery of global growth.

December 11, 2013

Czech Republic: CNB Aquires Foreign Currencies

During monetary interventions CNB has purchased foreign currencies in the amoung of CZK 200bn.

November 26, 2013

Czech Republic: CNB Facing Investigations

Czech Senator Dryml ordered the head of counter-intelligence service (BIS) Jiri Lang to initiate investigations against the Czech National Bank (CNB).

November 22, 2013

Czech National Bank Not Intending Further Forex Interventions

According to Miroslav Singer, governor of the Czech National Bank, the authority is not planning on taking further measures at the forex market to weaken the Czech Crown (CZK).

November 21, 2013

Poland: Reshufflement at Government

A major reshufflement is currently under way at the Polish government.

November 20, 2013

Hungary: NPLs at Record High

The number of NPLs has reached a new record high, according to MNB.

November 18, 2013

Nowotny: Economic Recovery not as Strong as Expected

According to Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), indicators point toward a slow recovery in the next quarters.

November 18, 2013

ECB Still Has Further Tools

In spite of the most recent cut of the key rate by the European Central Bank (ECB) there is still some leeway downward. However, measures will affect the exchange rate of the common currency.

November 13, 2013

Czech Republic: CNB Concerned about Private Households

In regard to the most recent forex intervention, the Czech National Bank (CNB) has expressed concern about private households, which would be affected for a longer period since savings as well as income will drop.

November 13, 2013

Czech President Sceptical about CNB’s Forex Intervention

Czech President Zeman expressed his reservations about the Central Bank’s latest forex interventions.

November 12, 2013

Austria: Nowotny Rejects Mood of Opposition against ECB

Ewald Nowotny, governor of OeNB, rejects the idea of having been part of a protest group against the European Central Bank’s (ECB) most recent monetary measures by cutting the key rate to an all-time low.

November 12, 2013

Romanian Inflation Forecast Adjusted by NBR

The National Bank of Romania (NBR) has adjusted the inflation forecast downward for 2013 and 2014.

November 11, 2013

Czech Republic: CNB to Intervene in Forex Market

After the Czech koruna (CZK) was devalued, the Czech National Bank (CNB) is keen on preventing a deflation. However, the key rate cannot be cut anymore as it is close to zero.

November 11, 2013

Czech Republic: Economic Outlook Improves

In its latest forecast, the Czech National Bank (CNB) has corrected the outlook on the Czech economy upward for the rest of 2013 while estimates for 2014 were slightly downgraded.

November 8, 2013

Czech Republic: Four Banks too Big to Fail

CNB has determined four domestic banks that could potentially endanger the country’s financial system in case of bankruptcy, as reported by daily “Hospodarske noviny” (HN).

October 24, 2013

OMV: Weakest Refining Margin Since 2009

Compared to the same period in 2012, the whole production of Austrian oil company OMV has decreased in the third quarter as well as compared to the previous quarter.

October 18, 2013

Ukrainian Gas Pipeline Key Issue for EU Commission

A gas pipeline plan in the Ukraine is among the EU Commission’s key infrastructure projects.

October 16, 2013

Poland: 70 Percent against Introduction of Euro

According to a recent survey carried out by Public Opinion Research Center (CBOS) as many as 70 percent reject the idea of introducing the Euro to Poland.

October 15, 2013

Gazprom May Face Proceedings by Austrian OMV

OMV considers arbitral proceedings against Russian Gazprom in case no joint solution will be found.

October 9, 2013

Economic Upturn in Austria, Eurozone and CEE

Turbulent Emerging Market conditions have little impact on CEE.

October 2, 2013

Poland: Majority Still against Joining Eurozone

According to a poll, 52 percent of Polish citizens regard the country’s joining the single currency union will be bad for the country.

October 1, 2013

ESM Charges € 262 From Every Austrian

The establishing of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) burdens every Austrian citizens with an average amount of € 262. Luxembourg is the country contributing the most per capita followed by Ireland.

September 24, 2013

Austria: 80 Percent Opposed to 12-Hour-Working Day

A survey of a Socialist trade union shows that 80 percent of employees are opposed of a working day of twelve hours.

September 19, 2013

Bank Austria to Close Subsidiaries in Hungary

Because of higher costs caused by a tax on financial transaction, which was introduced during the current year, the affiliate of Italian UniCredit intends to downsize operations in Hungary.

September 19, 2013

Austria: Weak Growth Impulses

Today, the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (Wifo) has corrected the economic outlooks for Austria downwards. Growth impulses have been very weak so far.

September 10, 2013

Romania: Government Loans Declined 1.2 Percent

Romanian Government loans granted by credit institutions declined by 1.2 percent.

August 27, 2013