Sponsored Content
Vienna International Community - Top Politicians - Latest Headlines
Read updated news about key politicians in Vienna's international community


Austria: Wifo’s Estimates More Optimistic

Wifo forecasts Austria to keep its growth advantage if “smart” consolidation measures are carried out by the government.
November 20, 2013


Albania: Governor Calls For Measures for Balanced Financial System

Financial institutes in Albania are struggling with a weak demand in credits as the country has been affected by the economic and financial crisis.
November 20, 2013


Austria: High Tax Country

According to the new tax report of PrinceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the tax burden in Austria is ten percent higher than the average tax rate in the European Union and even beats Sweden.
November 19, 2013


Romania: Banks Keep Risk Margins Unchanged

In spite of the recent cut in the key rate to an all-time low of four percent the financial institutes will not loosen risk policies.
November 19, 2013


RBI Examines Sale Offers in Hungary

Apart from the withdrawal from Ukraine, Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) considers an exit from Hungary.
November 19, 2013


Fekter: Austrian Budget Gap Based on Unfavorable Economic Forecast

Yesterday afternoon current Finance Minister Maria Fekter and State Secretary of Finances Andreas Schieder met with the parliamentary budget committee. The opposition parties demanded answers and clarification in regard to the budget gap.
November 19, 2013


Nowotny: Must Avoid Bubble in CESEE

In order to avoid another asset bubble like in 2008, loan growth has to be monitored, governor of Austrian National Bank Ewald Nowotny says.
November 19, 2013


„Not Enough Bank Insolvencies“

Andrea Enria, head of the European Banking Authority (EBA), claims that the banking landscape did not change sufficiently.
November 18, 2013


RBI Approves Participation in Bad Bank for Hypo

CEO of RBI Sevelda expects Austrian government to set a time limit for bank levies until the end of 2016.
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


Slovenia Issues New Eurobonds

The issuance of a new bond in the amount of € 1.5bn on Friday came as surprise as Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek has annouced earlier no such measures will be made until the beginning of the new year.
November 18, 2013


Linic: No Aid from IMF Needed

According to Croatia´s Minister of Finance Slavko Linic, the country will manage the financial crisis on its own.
November 15, 2013


Hungary: Level of Credit Defaults Declining Significantly

According to OTP Bank, the level of credit defaults from borrowers has started to drop to the lowest level since the beginning of the financial and economic crisis.
November 15, 2013


Poland: Improvements at Banking Sector Not Expected

Next year’s results in the banking sector are not expected to exceed the ones in 2013.
November 15, 2013


Slovenian Government Wins Vote of Confidence

As expected, on Friday the Slovenian center-left government of Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek has won a vote of confidence.
November 15, 2013


Hypo Bad Bank Not to be Established Before 2014

Insiders do not expect the downsizing unit for state-owned Hypo Group Alpe Adria to be established before 2014.
November 15, 2013


Austria: Fekter Indicates Resignation

Even before the general elections in September rumors were circling around about Finance Minister Maria Fekter’s withdawal from her position.
November 14, 2013


Austria: Bad Bank For Hypo As Good As Guaranteed.

Chancellor Faymann and Deputy Chancellor Spindelegger are in favor of creating a bad bank for Hypo Group.
November 14, 2013


Success for VIG Group Companies in the Czech Republic

Martin Diviš named “Insurance Manager of the Year”.
November 14, 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


Austria: Budget Gap Smaller than Expected

The budget gap will, according to the latest reports, comes at an amount between € 21bn and 25bn until the year 2018. Earlier there had been talk of a shortfall amounting up to € 30bn to € 40bn.
November 13, 2013


BayernLB: “Hypo Not Willing to Pay“

Because of the legal dispute with Austrian problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria, former German parent company BayernLB announced not to increase its risk provision.
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


Romania: UniCredit Tiriac Bank’s Profits Exceeding Expectations

On an annual comparison basis, Unicredit Tiriac Bank posted an increase of profits of 48 percent to € 48.5m since the beginning of this year exceeding all expectations.
November 13, 2013


Austria: Bawag to Pay Off Further State Capital

Today CEO Byron Haynes announced that Bawag will pay back a further tranche of the bank state aid injected in 2009.
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


Western Balkans Struggling with NPL

The high percentage of non-performing loans in the Western Balkan region is affecting the financial stability of the region’s countries.
November 11, 2013


Nowotny Against ECB’s Key Rate Cut

The governor of the Austrian National Bank has, according to reports, voted against the ECB’s most recent interventions.
November 11, 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


Interest Rate Cut: “Very Effective Property Tax“

Economists have judged the ECB’s cut in interest rate differently. According to Brezinschek, chief analyst at Raiffeisen International, savers that are not involved in speculative investments will not benefit from the latest key rate cut.
November 8, 2013


VIG: Expansion Plans in Baltic States

According to a report by “Wirtschaftsblatt”, the Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) plans to expand business activity in the Baltic States. From 2014 on, the Austrian insurance company will start conquering the Estonian insurance market.
November 8, 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


Eurozone: Key Rate At Record Low

Low inflation was reason for ECB to lower key rate again by 0.25 percent.
November 7, 2013


ECB to Keep Interest Rate Low

Despite a low inflation, the European Central Bank (ECB) will keep the interest rate low. The Council of ECB has held a meeting on Thursday morning
November 7, 2013


Bawag Denies Circulated Job Cuts

According to media reports, the Austrian bank plans radical job cuts in 2014. Bawag´s management stressed that the rumors are untrue.
November 7, 2013


Leitl Rejects Further Bank Taxes

Christoph Leitl, president of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), rejects the Finance Ministry’s plan to impose further taxes on Austrian banks in order to decrease public debts.
November 6, 2013


Austria: Compulsory Levy on Assets Simply “Out of Question“

Top bankers and economists in Austria consider the compulsory levy of ten percent on household assets “out of question” and “ludicrous”.
November 5, 2013


Analysis - Vienna Stock Exchange on a “Sustainable Upward Trend”

After five downhill years, the Vienna Stock Exchange is finally seeing something like a silver lining.
October 30, 2013 · Updated: November 5, 2013; 18:00


Hypo Group: Restraining Effect on Budget Consolidation

According to the EU’s autumn prognosis, nationalized Hypo Group and its liabilities running in the billions still have a restraining effect on the Austrian budget consolidation.
November 5, 2013


Slovenia: Petition Against Real Estate Tax Initiated

On Monday, a petition against the planned real estate tax was initiated. In an attempt to reduce the massive fiscal shortfall, Slovenia is looking for new revenues. The property tax is supposed to bring about more than € 400m.
November 5, 2013


Serbia: FDI as Driver for Economy

Further decline in FDI could affect economic growth in the Western Balkan state. The Serbian government announced to push forward with amendmends to improve business environment and boost economic growth.
November 4, 2013


Czech Budget Deficit to Remain Below Approved Mark

The budget deficit in the Czech Republic increased to CZK 47.7bn in October from CZK 38.2bn in September.
November 4, 2013


Austria: Liquidation No Option for Hypo Group

Nationalized-by force Hypo Group Alpe Adria, which is struggling under liabilities running in the billions, will not be closed. OeNB rejects rumors about establishing a bad bank
November 4, 2013


RBI: Rothensteiner Opposed Payout Block

The head of the Raiffeisen Centrobank and Chairman of RBI’s (Raiffeisen Bank International) supvervisory board Walter Rothensteiner is critical of a capital increase by a payout block.
October 31, 2013


“Property Tax Cannot Finance Wage Tax Cut”

Bernhard Felderer, head of the Austrian public debt committee, stresses that the Austrian government must reduce the public debt level as soon as possible.
October 31, 2013


Hypo Group to be Renamed after Sale

After the closing of the sale future owner of Hypo Group Alpe Adria Sanjeev Kanoria from the UK with Indian origins intends to rename Hypo Group.
October 31, 2013


Lopatka: EU Enlargement Process of Western Balkans Decisive for Austria

“Non-Enlargement” of Western Balkan states would be fatal for Austrian businesses operating in the region and the national economy.
October 31, 2013


World Bank: Croatia Showing Progress

Despite notable progress the country slipped back to beigt 89th out of 185 countries in the ranking “Doing Business” by the World Bank.
October 31, 2013


Immofinanz to Build Shopping Center in Poland

With Warbud SA, the general contractor, listed real estate company Immofinanz will establish a shopping center for around € 95m in Poland.
October 30, 2013