Austrian Securities Market and Stock Exchange News and Analysis

Austrian Bank Levy: “Penalty Gone Wild”

On the basis of a new method of calculation around € 90m more in bank levy should be generated compared to the previous year.

January 22, 2014

Capital Increase: Raiffeisen Bank International Has High Hopes

The second-largest lender in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) wants to raise funds of € 2.9bn. This is substantially more than initially scheduled.

January 21, 2014

„Only A Catastrophy Will Bring a Change“

Bestselling author Marc Friedrich criticizes the IMF sharply and thinks that the Basel III framework is “ridiculous”. The U.S. monetary policy is “doomed to failure”.

January 21, 2014

Erste to Maintain Business in Hungary

According to CEO of Erste Group’s Hungarian affiliate, the bank will remain in the country to expand business activity.

January 21, 2014

Croatia: Hungarian OTP to Acquire Banco Popolare Croatia

OTP will, according to media reports, take over Banco Popolare Croatia which has a market share of only 0.56 percent.

January 21, 2014

S Immo Looking Forward to 2014

9.98% price performance and new projects in Berlin. Summary of 2013 and outlook for 2014

January 21, 2014

Czech Republic: Lending Conditions to Remain Stable

According to the Czech National Bank (CNB), credit conditions for corporate and mortgage loans will remain unchanged while conditions for consumer loans will tighten.

January 20, 2014

Erste Group: Moderate Economic Recovery in Eurozone

Euro area sentiment indicators point to a continuation of the moderate recovery, according to Erste Bank.

January 20, 2014

Poland to Do without Further Bond Issues

Poland will abstain from issuing new US-Dollar or Eurobonds.

January 20, 2014

Kotian: “Growth in CEE is Accelerating“

In an interview with Austrian daily “Wirtschafts-Blatt”, CEE expert at Erste Group, Juraj Kotian, points out that the bond market is expected to see growth supported by the successful reduction of debts and high economic growth.

January 20, 2014

Uniqa Serbia Continues to Grow

Market share increases to 7.3 per cent in third quarter of 2013. Premium volume for life insurance up 18.5 per cent.

January 20, 2014

Austrian Banks to Resist Further Burdens?

Podium discussion at Viennese law firm Binder Grösswang.

January 20, 2014

Mitterlehner: „Hypo Group Must Not Burden State Budget“

Austria´s Minister of Economics underlined that the Austrian government is looking for an effective and cost-saving solution for the nationalized Lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria.

January 20, 2014

„Hungarian Economy Must be Rearranged“

István Töröcskei thinks that the Hungarian banking sector is highly interesting. In general, the financial sector must help to develop the Hungarian economy, Töröcskei argues.

January 18, 2014

KPMG: „Social Media Is the Key“

The image of the global banking industry is not satisfying at all. According to a study released by KPMG, banks have to put more effort in social media activities.

January 18, 2014

Croatia: “Loose Monetary Policy Shows First Signs of Success”

Boris Vujcic, governor of HNB (Croatian National Bank) thinks that the quantitative easing policy works.

January 17, 2014

S&P Optimistic About Slovenia

The U.S. rating agency reiterated the Slovenian sovereign debt rating at A-. The outlook remains “stable”. S&P´s analysts consider Slovenia´s crisis management as adequate.

January 17, 2014

Hungary: Forex Loan Problem to be Solved

According to the Hungarian National Bank (MNB), the problem of the foreign-exchange loans could be solved in the next half year.

January 17, 2014

WSE to Become Regional Leader?

The Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) hopes to take over a “dominant” role in trading in Central Europe, as announced by GPW, the bourse’s operator, on Thursday.

January 17, 2014

Slovenia Attracting FDI from US and UK

The Slovenian Ministry of Finance is taking great efforts to attract investors from the US and the UK.

January 17, 2014

Bank Levy: Austrian Regional Banks Under High Pressure

The Austrian government will raise the bank levy significantly. Smaller banks have to perform disproportionately high taxes, Oberbank´s CEO Franz Gasselsberger says.

January 16, 2014

$ 1.0trn Capital Shortfall in European Banking Sector?

According to U.S. economists, the stress tests carried out by the European Central Bank are too soft.

January 16, 2014

BayernLB Bought Hypo Group Alpe Adria above Value

Apparently former member of BayernLB’s supervisory board acquired Hypo Group Alpe Adria above its value.

January 16, 2014

Bulgaria: Loan Portfolios Expected to Increase

The increase in industrial production will have a positive effect on the number of loans taken out.

January 16, 2014

Expansion Course of Austrian Banks Slowed Down

After the financial crisis cooled down the expansion course of Austrian banks in CESEE countries was dampened down.

January 16, 2014

Hypo Group: Other Downsizing Unit than Bad Bank?

Rumors about other models than a bad bank have appeared.

January 15, 2014

CESEE: Massive Increase in Real Estate Investments

In Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, the total volume of real estate transactions totaled € 10.bn last year. Most transactions were recorded in Russia and Poland.

January 15, 2014

Hypo Group: No Alternative to Bad Bank

The time pressure on the Austrian government is growing day by day. The nationalized Austrian problem bank urgently needs a bad bank.

January 14, 2014

IMF and EBRD Deeply Concerned Over CESEE

Foreign banks continue to withdraw capital from the region. According to the International Monetary Fund, the development is highly considerable.

January 14, 2014

Raiffeisen Bank International Moves Up a Gear

The second-largest lender in CESEE is in a hurry. According to the news provider Bloomberg, the capital increase may take place in the next few weeks.

January 14, 2014

Bank Austria Declines Selling Plans in Ukraine

CEO of Bank Austria, Gianni Franco Papa, rejects rumors about Bank Austria intending to leave the Ukraine.

January 14, 2014

Czech Republic: Economic Growth Expected to Expand

The Czech Banking Association (CBA) has adjusted its economic forecast and expects a growth rate of 1.9 percent for the Czech economy this year.

January 14, 2014

CESEE: Number of NPL Declining

According to a study by Bank Austria, the number of bad loans is declining in Central and Eastern Europe.

January 14, 2014

Nowotny Sees Growth Potential in Eurozone and CEE

According to Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), the outlooks for economic upturn in the Eurozone and Central/Eastern Europe have improved significantly compared to only a year ago.

January 14, 2014

Bank Austria Generates Fresh Capital

On Monday, January 13, UniCredit Bank Austria issued its first mortgage bond for 2014 to strengthen its capital base.

January 14, 2014

Austria: Expert Paper for Hypo Group’s Bad Bank

An expert paper about possible downsizing options for state-controlled problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria is expected to be handed in to the government until the middle of the week.

January 13, 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

Austria: Distribution of Wealth Extremely Unequal

The top one percent of Austrian households possesses more than 50 percent of all investment income.

January 13, 2014

Serbia Facing Testing Year

The Serbian government is currently working on a plan to improve the competitiveness of domestic enterprises.

January 13, 2014

Poland to Cover Borrowing Needs Early

The biggest CESEE economy wants to raise cash before the U.S. FED begins to reduce its asset buying program. The CESEE region will absorb the monetary shock, though.

January 13, 2014

Basel III Framework to be Softened

The Basel Committee´s oversight body has amended the leverage ratio rules. For the banking industry, this step is an important success.

January 13, 2014

Austria: VBAG Not to Receive Further Aids

Ailing banking institute VBAG of the Austrian Volksbanken Group will not be granted further state aids.

January 13, 2014

Romania: Economic Growth not Sustainable Yet

In the third quarter of 2013, Romania´s GDP growth amounted to 4.1%. Nevertheless, Romania is still far from a sustainable economic recovery.

January 11, 2014

Fitch: Positive Comment on Raiffeisen Bank International

According to the U.S. rating agency, the planned capital increase is evaluated positively. In certain CESEE market, RBI´s operations will remain challenging, Fitch said.

January 11, 2014

Europe/CESEE: Heavy Trade in Distressed Assets

Until 2018, European lenders will offload about 300bn of bad debts, according to PwC. Above all, U.S. private equity firms are taking the opportunity.

January 11, 2014

Bulgaria: Fitch Confirms Rating at “BBB-“

According to Fitch, the outlooks are stable. In case of an increase in political and social tensions, Bulgaria´s current rating would be in danger, however. Bulgaria´s financial situation is satisfying, though.

January 11, 2014

RBI: Capital Increase Because of Unsuccessful Partner Search

For Raiffeisen Bank International, the capital increase is nothing else but an emergency solution. The main loser is RBI´s core shareholder, the Austrian Raiffeisen Zentralbank.

January 10, 2014

Hungary: Further Monetary Cuts Not Unlikely

Adam Balog, deputy governor of the Hungarian National Bank (MNB), argues that there is still downward potential.

January 10, 2014

RBI: Change in Shareholdings Expected

The announcement to increase capital by Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) did not come as a surprise. However, experts and investors did not expect such a high volume (up to € 2.5bn) and fear a dilution in shareholdings.

January 10, 2014

Slovenia: 2014 Credit Line of € 7.7bn

On Thursday the Slovenian government adopted a budget financing plan which includes this year’s credit line of up to € 7.7bn.

January 10, 2014