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Austrian Securities Market and Stock Exchange News and Analysis
Read the latest headlines and breaking news about the Vienna International Stock Exchange and the Austrian securities market (bonds, stocks)
Vienna Stock Exchange: ATX Upswing Drives Up Equity Trading in Q1
The Vienna Stock Exchange has seen the strongest monthly equity turnover since August 2011. The average monthly trading volume to date in 2015 is EUR 5.04 billion which represents a gain of 26.61% over the average monthly trading volume of the year 2014 (EUR 3.98 billion).
April 2, 2015
OMV Appoints Outsider Rainer Seele as New CEO
The Supervisory Board of OMV appointed Rainer Seele (54) as the new Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of OMV. Rainer Seele has accepted the appointment. He will assume the position effective July 1, 2015 for a three-year period, with an extension option for OMV for further two years. The current Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO Gerhard Roiss will resign from his position on June 30, 2015 as previously announced.
March 27, 2015
Stock Exchange Index ATX five: Immofinanz Replaces RBI, Composition Unchanged
At a decision making index committee meeting the Vienna Stock Exchange reached a decision on changes to the leading Austrian index, ATX, as well as on further Austrian indices. In the ATX five Raiffeisen Bank International AG will be replaced by Immofinanz AG due to its higher market capitalization.
March 5, 2015
Vienna Insurance Group Places EUR 400 Million Bond Issue
Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe placed a subordinated bond with a volume of EUR 400 million with institutional investors.
February 18, 2015
Strabag SE Expects EBIT of at Least € 300 Million for 2015
Construction group Strabag SE today announced its first figures for the 2014 financial year and issued an outlook for 2015.
February 16, 2015
Austrian Government Guarantees Stand at EUR 112.9 bn
Newly collected data by Statistics Austria on State guarantees (governmental contingent liabilities, potential obligations and assets) show guarantees of €112.9 bn at the end of 2013 (of which 52% are granted by the state and local government sectors).
February 10, 2015
Erste Group Seales Agreement to Sale 15 Percent of Hungarian Unit
Erste Group has invited the Government of Hungary and the EBRD to invest in Erste Bank Hungary Zrt. by acquiring a minority stake of up to 15 per cent each. Negotiations are in progress and the completion of the transaction is expected within the next six months.
February 9, 2015
Strabag SE Issues € 200 Million Corporate Bond
Construction group Strabag SE issues a € 200 million corporate bond. The fixed-interest bond has a term to maturity of seven years and a coupon of 1.625 % p.a.
January 29, 2015
Geopolitical Developments have Negative Impact on VSE Performance
The Vienna Stock Exchange looks back at an eventful year 2014. A weak performance of the leading index, ATX, contrasted with numerous highlights such as large capital increases, the successful public offering of FACC AG, a record-year in terms of new corporate bonds listings and heigh liquidity, i.e. an increase in trading volumes and number of transactions.
January 22, 2015
ECB Unleashes Quantitative Easing - How does it work?
Today, the ECB finally commenced on a large scale sovereign bond-buying programme. The €60bn monthly asset purchases include covered bonds and asset backed securities. Due to the flood of cheap money, the DAX was boosted. The index increased by up to one per cent to a record high of 10,399.67 points. Quantitative easing is a monetary policy where a central bank creates new money electronically to buy financial assets. The aim is to stimulate an economy when standard monetary policy has become ineffective. How does it work?
January 22, 2015
Slovak Republic Issues 12-Year Eurobond Worth EUR 1.5 Billion
Slovakia’s first syndicated EUR transaction of the year attracted a total demand from more than 200 investors which reached almost EUR 5.5 billion.
January 15, 2015
VSE and Zagreb Stock Exchange to Cooperate in Data Vending
The Zagreb Stock Exchange signed a cooperation agreement with the Vienna Stock Exchange for data vending. With this step, the Vienna Stock Exchange has enlarged its Central and Eastern Europe data vending network.
November 24, 2014
BKS Bank Carinthia - EUR 52 Mln Capital Increase Completed
Today, some 3.3 million new shares of BKS Bank start trading in the "standard market auction" of the Vienna Stock Exchange. The exchange-listed Carinthian bank carried out a capital increase that raised the company's equity by around EUR 52 million.
November 3, 2014
Corporate Bond Market Comment by Raiffeisen Research: OMV, Kapsch TrafficCom, Telekom Austria
"The slight correction on credit markets that lasted until the middle of last week was calmed by speculations of a possible extension of the US Fed’s expansive monetary policy stance, as well as thus far also unconfirmed reports that the ECB might expand its bond purchases to the corporate bond sector. This slight relaxation was also observable in the stock market volatility, measured by the VDAX. This indicator rose to 23.57% p.a. last week and by yesterday had fallen to 17.75% p.a." Raiffeisen Research is seeing similar market developments in their Austrian Corporate Index.
October 23, 2014
Raiffeisen Research Comments on ECB’s Asset Quality Review of Austrian Banks
With regard to the ECB’s asset quality review of Austrian banks, according to Bloomberg ECB Governor Nowotny has stated that Austrian institutes will largely pass the tests. When asked about Volksbank and that it might fail the tests, Nowotny stated that it is no secret that there will be one institution that might have gaps that need filling but there are precautions taken.
October 23, 2014
Business Indicator: Dip in Economic Activity Towards End of Year, but Hope Remains for 2015
Bank Austria has published its latest "Business Indicator" on the Austrian economy. The Bank's analysts believe that in light of the increasing uncertainty in recent months, the moderate recovery achieved by the European and therefore the Austrian economy too this year is taking a breather. The Russia/Ukraine crisis and the tensions in the Middle East have blighted sentiment in the Austrian economy at the start of autumn on a broad scale.
October 17, 2014
CEE Sovereign Bond Market Among Best Investment Destinations in Europe
The CEE sovereign bonds are among the best investments in Europe this year. High returns and low volatility increase investor appeal. The CEE sovereign bond market is 5th largest in continental Europe. Romania emerges as CEE regional champion among local currency bonds.
October 2, 2014
RBI Revises Expected Provisioning Requirement
Vienna based Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) has revised its outlook for the net provisioning requirement for the current financial year to between EUR 1,500 and EUR 1,700 million, primarily due to higher expected risk costs in Ukraine in light of ongoing political tensions in the region.
September 23, 2014
European Startups in Vienna: Entering a New Age of Pioneering
From October 29th startups will compete for the attention of investors and companies in Vienna. The application for the Pioneers Challenge has just begun. Start-ups have no easy job to enthuse investors for their ideas. But Vienna offers one of the best ways to do just that: During the Pioneers Festival in late October young companies can secure the attention of potential donors and inspire other companies and media for their innovations.
September 18, 2014
Most Austrian Investment Funds Report Positive Results
In August Austrian investment funds improved their performance y/y, with most funds posting a positive result. Of the 1,599 funds operating on the market for at least one year some 1,522 reported a positive performance and only 77 reported a negative performance.
September 9, 2014
Ederer Resigns as Supervisory Board Member of OIAG
Brigitte Ederer resigns as supervisory board member and leaves state holding company OIAG.
September 9, 2014
Vienna Stock Exchange's ATX Index Down by 9.62% in 2014
The ATX closed at 2,301.52 points on 29 August 2014, which is a loss of 9.62% over year-end 2013 (2,546.54 points). The ATX Prime closed at 1,155.84 points on 29 August 2014, which is a loss of 8.13% over year-end 2013 (1,258.07 points).
September 8, 2014
RBI Redeems Participation Capital
Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) is now also repaying the privately-placed participation capital. On 6 June 2014, RBI paid back the state-held tranche of the participation capital with a nominal value of € 1.75 billion. On 10 September, the repayment of the outstanding participation capital held by private investors with a nominal value of € 0.75 billion will follow.
September 8, 2014
Buwog: The ATX of the Vienna Stock Exchange has a New Member
At today's meeting, the Index Committee has decided on changes in the composition of Austrian stock indices. All changes become effective as of 22 September 2014. In the Austrian leading index, ATX, Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG will be replaced by BUWOG AG.
September 2, 2014
S&P Downgrades Erste, RZB, UniCredit, Affirms HYPO NOE, KA Finanz, Upgrades HYPO OO
S&P is downgrading three banks, affirming the ratings on two banks, upgrading one bank, and lowering various issue ratings on the banks' hybrid capital and guaranteed grandfathered debt.
August 13, 2014
Comment: Outlook of Vienna Stock Exchange
Manfred Sibrawa of BAWAG PSK INVEST GmbH comments on the expectation of the performance of the Vienna Stock Exchange until year end. Erste Bank and Raiffeisen Bank International, but also OMV, booked double-digit losses, while the Vienna Stock Exchange welcomed a new member, FACC. "All in all we saw a mixed development year-to-date, but assuming that we see a stabilization of the global situation we can expect the Vienna ATX to speed up and reduce the underperformance towards other established markets."
August 7, 2014
Bank Austria Posts Net Profit of EUR 776 Mln in H1 2014
Net profit rises by 34.3 per cent to EUR 776 million compared with the same period of the previous year.
August 6, 2014
Event: 21st Austria & Advantage Austria: Re-Think Central and Eastern Europe - An Austrian Perspective
On September 23, 2014, 21st Austria and Advantage Austria UK will host a panel discussion at the City of London's Gherkin skyscraper. Herbert Stepic, former CEO of RBI Raiffeisen Bank International and Georg Karabaczek, Austrian Trade Commissioner for the UK will focuse on the topic "Re-Think Central and Eastern Europe: An Austrian Perspective on Diversity in Performance, Challenges and Avenues of Growth". Panellists also include Pasquale Diana, Mario Holzner and Eduard Zehetner.
August 1, 2014
Analysis: Russia - Assessment of EU and Tightened US Sanctions
Special analysis covering the most recent escalation in terms of Western economic and financial sanctions against Russia: EU and US sending bold diplomatic signals without inflicting too much near-term economic and financial damage. In comparison to the US sanctions by the EU are capped in duration. Recent escalation adds to uncertainty in doing business with Russia, which is an ultimate goal of sanctions. Near-term impact of current sanctions still limited, which implies a risk that they may remain for longer.
July 31, 2014
Austrian FDI: Current Developments 1Q 2014
In the first quarter of 2014, Austrian FDI abroad reached a value of 2.8 billion euros, which is less by about 30% than in the same period of 2013. Foreign direct investments in the same period into Austria stood at 1.4 billion euros. This is about 37% less than in the same period of last year.
July 29, 2014
Vienna Stock Exchange Raised EUR 3.1 Billion in Capital in 1HY 2014
In the first half of 2014, Austrian companies raised more than EUR 3.1 billion in fresh capital through the Vienna Stock Exchange. This volume is larger than the aggregate volume of the past two years (transaction volume 2012 and 2013: EUR 2.1 billion) and the highest level achieved since 2007. The volume consists of the capital increases of Raiffeisen Bank International (EUR 2.78 billion), Porr (EUR 120 million), and the successful initial public offering of FACC (around EUR 213 million).
July 2, 2014
Vienna: ATX Remains one of the Most Undervalued Stock Indices
"We strongly believe in the potential of the ATX. By comparison to Western Europe and the US, stocks on the Austrian market have moderate valuations and this makes them more attractive to investors."
July 2, 2014
Latest Update of the RBI Risk Indicator
The RBI Risk Indicator hast been updated today. It fell by around 14.9% overall and still stands below its 150-day moving average. The RBI Risk Indicator is a quantitative indicator that serves primarily as a short-term decision support instrument for high-risk investments.
June 23, 2014
Austrian Investment Funds Report Generally Positive Performance in May
Austrian investment funds recorded a mostly positive y/y performance at the end of May. Of the 1,604 funds operating on the market for at least one year, 1,338 showed a positive performance, while 262 of them saw a y/y negative performance. Four funds saw no change of the asset volume.
June 16, 2014
EBRD Provides €20 Mio Loan to Slovakia for Sustainable Energy Projects
The EBRD is deepening its support for sustainable energy investments in the Slovak Republic with a €20m loan to Slovenska Sporitelna, a.s. (SLSP), one of the country’s leading banks. The funds will be on-lent to private companies for renewable energy projects and energy efficiency in industry and buildings.
June 16, 2014
CEE-Initiative: Strengthening Investment Fund Business in Central- and Eastern Europe (CEE)
The Hungarian association BAMOSZ and the Austrian association VÖIG initiated a closer collaboration and tighter co-operation between fund associations in CEE, the so-called „CEE Initiative“. The member associations of the „CEE Initiative“ are (in alphabetical order): Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine.
June 16, 2014
VÖIG: "In 2013 Retail Investors Continued to be Timid and Shy"
From the viewpoint of retail investors the year 2013 could have been really easy: a mixed fund portfolio with an increased share portion and selected corporate and government bonds. In retrospect, 2013 proved to be almost free of financial market turbulences after years of global financial market and economic crises as well as the debt crisis in the euro area.
June 14, 2014
VIG Considers to Delist from Warsaw Stock Exchange
Listed insurer VIG is considering delisting from the Warsaw Stock Exchange, should it decide to merge with the Vienna bourse, CEO Peter Hagen told news agency Reuters in an interview.
June 12, 2014
Sevelda: “Russia Still Crucial Market”
In the light of the close ties with regard to economic and energy relations with Russia Karl Sevelda, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) warns about the tightening of penalties against Russia.
May 23, 2014
Erste Group Bank AG: Voting Results of the 21st AGM
Erste Group Bank AG has published the voting results of the 21st Annual General Meeting, which took place on 21 May 2014 at 10 a.m., as follows.
May 22, 2014
Austrian Oberbank Shines in Hungary
Austrian Oberbank bucks the trend of terminating business activity in Hungary. Instead, the financial institute plans on growing in one of the most difficult markets in Europe.
May 22, 2014
Romania: Banca Transilvania Gives Shares to Employees
As part of the loyalty program, the Romania lender gave almost 10 million shares to its employees.
May 12, 2014
Croatia: Adris Grupa to Bid for Insurer Croatia Osiguranje
The Croatian financial regulator HANFA has approved Adris Grupa, the largest tobacco company on the Balkans, placing its bid to take over insurance company Croatia Osiguranje.
May 12, 2014
World Bank Approves Health Loan to Croatia
The Croatian government will use the World Bank’s funds for a national health program.
May 9, 2014
Romania: Raiffeisen Bank Issues Unsecured Bonds
Raiffeisen announced plans of issuing unsecured bonds at the stock exchange in Bucharest with a nominal value of RON 500m (€ 112.8m) with a maturity of five years.
May 9, 2014
Croatia to Place New Eurobond by June
The Croatian government plans to issue a Eurobond until the beginning of June.
May 9, 2014
Poland: Banking Industry’s Profits Down
In the first quarter this year, the net profit of Polish banks came at PLN 3.97bn (€ 944m, down by 2.9 percent year-on-year, as reported by the Polish financial market regulator KNF.
May 9, 2014
Verbund: Trying to Get Rid of Sorgenia
The Austrian utility Verbund announced not being willing to invest any further money into loss-making Italian energy group Sorgenia.
May 8, 2014
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
Slovenian Banka Celje Needs Further State Aids
Because of the failed capital increase in the amount of € 160m, Banka Celje is requiring further state capital.
May 2, 2014