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Vienna International Professional Services Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international service industry in Vienna and Austria
Czech Republic: Interest on Mortgage Loans Dropped
Interest ratest on mortgage loans dropped to a record low to 2.93 percent last month.
April 18, 2014
Hypo Group: Time Pressure Grows Dramatically
Future bank aids for the nationalized Austrian lender are limited. Haircuts for creditors and bondholders are not unlikely.
April 17, 2014
Republic of Austria Liable for Domestic Banks in Ukraine and Russia
The Austrian Clearing Bank (OeKB) has assumed liabilities in the amount of € 4.0n in Russia and Ukraine. Besides the political risks, banks operating in Russia have to fear economic risks too.
April 17, 2014
Polish Insurer PZU Gains More Power in Baltic States
As announced by the Polish insurance company, PZU took over three Baltic competitors.
April 17, 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
Hypo Group: Privatization of Balkan Business Until 2015
The nationalized problem bank intends to sell its Balkan business within 2014.
April 17, 2014
Immofinanz: Ownership Problems in Romania
According to a court decision Immofinanz has took over not legitimately acquired property in Transsylvania.
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
Horrible Loss at Hypo Group Alpe Adria
The former Balkan lender shocks with new figures. The Austrian nationalized bank had to write off wide parts of its risky assets. Further losses are likely as well as further capital injections.
April 16, 2014
Bank Austria Ends Business on Crimea
One day after Ukrainian affiliate of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), Bank Aval, has terminated business on the peninsula Crimea, UniCredit’s Bank Austria announced closing down its affiliates permanently.
April 16, 2014
Conwert to Leave Germany?
A consortium of investors is highly interested in the German subsidiary of the Austrian real estate group. The consortium is led by conwert´s former board director Johannes Meran.
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
S&P Upgrades Polish Banking Sector
Rating agency Standard & Poor’s has upgraded the Polish banking sector from “negative” to “stable”.
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
Erste Group Bank AG: Full Year 2013 Company Report has been Published by FriedlResearch
Published in April 2014, this report contains in depth information and data about Erste Group and its operations and markets. It contains a company overview, business and strategy description, financial ratios, valuation & forecasts, plus a SWOT analysis.
April 15, 2014
Vienna: Luxury Real Estate Segment Booms
In contrast to the general trend in Austria, the properties in Vienna become more and more expensive. About 25% of the apartments cost more than € 500,000.
April 15, 2014
RBI Terminates Business on Crimea
The Ukrainian affiliate of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), Bank Aval, has terminated its business activity on Crimea.
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
“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
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
Uncertainty in Eastern Europe Makes RBI Nervous
In the last few months, the frame conditions in Russia become more and more unpredictable for foreign investors. For RBI, Russia is the most important market.
April 12, 2014
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Massive Losses in Italy
Last year, the distressed Austrian lender recorded losses in the amount of € 2.7bn. In Italy, losses were highest.
April 11, 2014
Raiffeisen Zentralbank Posts Better Results
The Viennese lender RZB, top institute of the Austrian Raiffeisen sector, posts a significant increase in net income. Nevertheless, the core tier 1 capital quota was down slightly.
April 11, 2014
Slovenia: Banka Celje Trying to Fend Off Bailout
The Slovenian lender is considering a capital increase to avoid national bailout.
April 11, 2014
Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG - Yearly Report
Annual Report of the Group of Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG (in German) and an extract in English
April 11, 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
Austria: VBAG Sells Malta Affiliate
Partly nationalized VBAG (Österreichische Volksbanken AG) has sold its banking affiliate VB Malta to Maltese Mediterranean Bank (MedBank).
April 11, 2014
Poland: Number of Consumer Loans Increases
According to Polish credit bureau BIK, the number of granted consumer loans has reached a new record.
April 11, 2014
Hypo Group: Disastrous Losses Revealed
Huge write-offs and value adjustments have sent losses of nationalized problem Hypo Group Alpe Adria soaring. Losses running into the billions are expected.
April 10, 2014
Poland: Key Rate Kept on Hold
The Monetary Policy Council of Poland has kept the key interest rate on hold since it ended easening in July last year.
April 10, 2014
Austria: Hypo Group’s Investigation Committee Ready for Action
The group of foreign experts at the investigation commission for Hypo Group Alpe Adria is supposed to guarantee the required objectivity. The first results are expected to be published at the end of the year.
April 10, 2014
Poland: NBP Posts No Profits
In 2013 the Polish National Bank (NBP) posted no profit.
April 10, 2014
Austria: Immofinanz to Remain in ATX Five
As announced on 4 March 2014, the ATX committee discussed about the future membership of Immofinanz AG in the ATX five.
April 10, 2014
Austria: Hypo Group Capitalized Again
The Austrian state has filled the capital hole of the ailing bank again.
April 9, 2014
Erste Group to be Relocated to the Czech Republic?
CEO of Erste Group, Andreas Treichl, has informed Czech President Milos Zeman about the bank’s intention to move to Prague in the coming years.
April 9, 2014
Hypo Group: Former CEO Sentenced to Prison
Former CEO of Hypo and investor Tilo Berlin was sentenced to more than two years in prison.
April 9, 2014
Poland: BZ WBK to Take Over Santander Consumer Bank
Bank BZ WBK was given the go-ahead by the Financial Market Regulator KNF to acquire a 60 percent stake in retail bank Santander Consumer Bank (SCB) from their joint parent bank Banco Santander.
April 9, 2014
S IMMO AG: Letting success in Sofia
The first quarter of 2014 brought encouraging successes in letting for S IMMO AG in Sofia, one of the company’s most challenging markets.
April 9, 2014
IMF Upgrades Growth for Slovenia
In its latest report the International Monetary Fund has raised its projection for GDP growth in Slovenia.
April 9, 2014
Austria: Government Wants “Restrictive Budget Performance”
Today the Austrian government has decided upon a “restrictive budget performance.
April 8, 2014
Fitch: Polish Rating Foundations Very Solid
As reported by news portal “Warsaw Voice”, rating agency Fitch considers the Polish credit rating foundations to be very solid.
April 8, 2014
Poland: Banks to Enhance Bond Issues
The Polish banks are expected to increase the value of bond issues in the next years.
April 8, 2014
Hypo Group too Expensive for BayernLB
According to an official expert, regional German lender BayernLB’s fatal decision to take over Hypo Group Alpe Adria was based on questionable company evaluations.
April 7, 2014
RBI Awarded Best Bank in CEE Once Again
Global Finance Awards: RBI again “Best Bank in CEE”.
April 7, 2014
Hypo Group: Heavy Burden for Austrian Fiscal Position
The Austrian National Bank, however, expects the structural medium-term budgetary objectives to be achievable.
April 7, 2014
RBI to Shut Down Affiliates on Crimea
The Ukrainian affiliate of Raffeisen Bank International (RBI) is closing all its affiliate on Crimea until mid-April.
April 7, 2014
Poland: No Danger of Deflation
According to Marek Belka, governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), there is not threat of deflation.
April 7, 2014
ECB Puts Pressure on Hypo Group
The distressed Austrian nationalized lender has no access to the Eurosystem monetary policy credit instruments. About ten potential buyers might be interested in the Balkan lender.
April 5, 2014