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)

Roubini: Hungary in Difficulties

A number of emerging countries are facing enormous problems, according to economist Nouriel Roubini. Also countries in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are affected.

February 5, 2014

“Hypo Group Bankruptcy Would Affect RBI Adversely“

According to the Vienna-based Raiffeisen Bank International, both a joint bad bank and Hypo Group´s insolvency have negative consequences on RBI´s share.

February 5, 2014

Poland: Sixteen Banks to be Examined by EBA

In total, sixteen Polish banks will participate in the stress tests carried out by the European Banking Authority.

February 4, 2014

Criticism of Croatia´s Fiscal Policy

Next year, Croatia´s government wants to comply with the EU fiscal rules. According to economists, this aim is not realistic.

February 4, 2014

Romania: Base Rate at Record Low

Today, the Board of the National Bank of Romania has cut the base rate to 3.50 % from 3.75%. Since July, borrowing costs were cut by 175 bps. Economists think that there will be no further cuts.

February 4, 2014

Austrian Government Does Not Rule Out Hypo Group´s Bankruptcy Anymore (2/2)

In the past few weeks, the Austrian government and the Austrian National Bank excluded this alternative categorically. Now, the bankruptcy scenario seems to be an option again.

February 4, 2014

Austrian Government Does Not Rule Out Hypo Group´s Bankruptcy Anymore (1/2)

In the past few weeks, the Austrian government and the Austrian National Bank excluded this alternative categorically. Now, the bankruptcy scenario seems to be an option again.

February 4, 2014

Santander on Circulated Sales Talks: „No Comment“

As reported by Vindobona, Spanish Banco Santander is said to be interest in taking over the fifth largest Austrian lender Bawag. Bawag´s management remains silent on this matter.

February 4, 2014

„Hungary and Austria Must not Become Enemies“

Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) wants a solution between the Hungarian government and the Austrian banking sector.

February 4, 2014

EBRD: CESEE Not Under Pressure Yet

According to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, most countries in CESEE are relatively unaffected despite the renewed pressure on emerging markets.

February 4, 2014

Bucharest: Fitch Affirms Sovereign Debt Rating

The U.S. rating agency Fitch has kept the long-term issuer default rating at “BBB-“. The outlook remains stable.

February 3, 2014

Santander Interested in Bawag?

The Spanish Banco Santander is said to be interested in Bawag, the German daily “Handelsblatt” reports.

February 3, 2014

„We Must Watch CESEE Very Carefully“

In an interview with the Austrian daily „Standard“, board member of Österreichische Kontrollbank AG Angelika Sommer-Hemetsberger said that the economic crisis in CESEE is not over yet.

February 3, 2014

Tusk: No Monetary Interventions Necessary

In the past few months, the Polish zloty fell significantly. However, Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk thinks that the zloty does not need support.

February 3, 2014

Austria: First Signs of a Credit Crunch

According to the CFO barometer, large enterprises fear that the access to bank loans will continue to worsen. Austrian SME want to become more independent of banks.

February 3, 2014

Suspicious Secrecy in the Cause of Hypo Group Alpe Adria

In the matter of Hypo Group Alpe Adria, the Austrian government acts disconcertingly. Details on the situation of the nationalized banks are still kept as a secret.

February 1, 2014

Hungary: Next Currency Crisis Ahead

The extremely loose monetary policy begins to become a problem for Hungary. The forint exchange rate is going up considerably.

February 1, 2014

Stress Tests Become Harder

Experts expect that not all banks participating in the examination will pass the stress test.

February 1, 2014

KBC Does Not Leave Hungary

The Belgian lender rejected rumors saying that the Hungarian unit may be sold. Not only KBC faces enormous difficulties in Hungary.

February 1, 2014

OTP: Takeover of Croatian Banco Popolare Fixed

On Friday Hungarian OTP signed a deal to take over Croatian affiliate of Italian Banco Popolare.

January 31, 2014

Bawag to Be Sold?

According to rumours, the fifth largest Austrian lender may be sold.

January 31, 2014

Poland: PKO BP Plans Keeping High Level of Loans

Poland’s biggest bank PKO BP plans selling consumer loans in the amount of PLN 2bn in every quarter from now on.

January 30, 2014

VSE and Kazakhstan Stock Exchange to Intensify Cooperations

Vienna Stock Exchange (VSE) and Kazakhstan Stock Exchange intensify cooperation – joint data vending agreed.

January 30, 2014

VIG to Do Up Romanian Division

Difficulties in Romania and Italy for Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) lead to a massive decline in profits.

January 29, 2014

WKO Rejects Further Financial Burdens for Banks

According to the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), the financial burdens of banking institutes in Austria are significantly higher than those of their competitors in other EU member states.

January 29, 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

S&P to Establish CEE Center in Poland

Warsaw will be the new CEE focal point of Standard&Poor;’s (S&P) as the US rating agency announced establishing an office in Warsaw.

January 29, 2014

Austria: IHS Against Bank Levy

Christian Keuschnigg, director of the Austrian economic research institute IHS stresses that the bank resolution funds would replace the bank levy.

January 28, 2014

Spindelegger: “No Exploitation of Resolution Funds”

Among the finance ministers in Europe, there are still different perceptions regarding the bank resolution fund.

January 28, 2014

Austria: RZB’s Share in RBI Drops Dramatically

The share of Raiffeisen Zentralbank (RZB) in its affiliate Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) drops dramatically after the capital increase.

January 28, 2014

Poland: New Indices at WSE

GPW, the operator of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) will introduce two new indices.

January 28, 2014

OECD Shows Great Concern over Hungarian Economy

According to the OECD, the country’s recovery from recession will be weak in 2014 and 2015

January 27, 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

Austrian Raiffeisen Sector to Create Risk Fund

In order to establish a cross-guarantee system, the Austrian Raiffeisen sector has to create a risk fund in the amount of € 400m.

January 27, 2014

Hypo Group Denies New Capital Shortfall

The nationalized Austrian lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria is said to require fresh founds in the amount of € 500m. The bank´s management claims the opposite.

January 25, 2014

S&P Keeps an Eye on Slovenian Banking Sector

The rating agency highlights the critical conditions of the Slovenian banking industry.

January 25, 2014

Hungary Faces Trend Reversal in Monetary Policy

The Hungarian National Bank (MNB) has cut the reference rate to 2.85% from 3.00%. The end of the easing cycle is not reached yet.

January 25, 2014

EBRD Presents New Strategy for Bosnia

The new strategy focuses on the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and the exporting industrial sector.

January 25, 2014

Another Emergency at Hypo Group Alpe Adria

The series of bad news does not come to an end. After enormous capital injections in 2013, the nationalized Austrian lender again needs help from the Austrian state.

January 24, 2014

Poland: More than Half of Borrowing Needs Covered

In CESEE, governments are in a hurry. The Polish government announced that about 50% of the borrowing needs could be covered in the first three weeks of 2014.

January 24, 2014

Slovenia: NLB Facing Downsizing Measures

Slovenian NLB is facing severe downsizing measures. As part of the restructuring process, the country’s biggest bank has to lay off personnel.

January 24, 2014

Serbia: World Bank Delays Loan

The World Bank has delayed a loan in the amount of US-$ 250m for Serbia.

January 24, 2014

Foreign Banks Leaving Bulgarian Market

In the past three years three non-domestic banks have left the Bulgarian market.

January 24, 2014

RBI Not to Be Sold to Hungarian State

Hungarian Minister Varga announced that the Hungarian state had no interest in taking over RBI’s local affiliate. Instead, RBI announced that staying in Hungary was “the right decision”.

January 23, 2014

Poland: Banking Sentiment Rises

The Polish banking sentiment indicator Pengab increased by 1.2 points in January on a month-on-month comparison basis to a total of 27.5 points.

January 23, 2014

Bulgaria Imposes Interest Ceiling on Quick Loans

The Bulgarian parliament plans on putting a lid on the interst rates of quick loans.

January 23, 2014

Poland: PKO BP Bond Rated A2

Rating agency Moody’s gave an “A2” with a negative outlook on the € 500m bond by Polish key lender PKO BP.

January 23, 2014

Slovenia: Bank Losses Tripled in 2013

Over the last year losses in the banking sector tripled to almost € 1.1bn.

January 23, 2014

CESEE: Recovery Remains Modest

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has published a report on the regional economic prospects. The economic recovery in CESEE remains fragile.

January 23, 2014

Insurance Industry Faces Growing Risks

According to the U.S. rating agency Fitch, insurers in Europe have to accept riskier investments. Ratings may deteriorate, Fitch warned.

January 22, 2014