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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)
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
Austria: VIG to Sell Stakes in Porr
Listed Vienna Insurance Grop (VIG) downsizes its stake in Austrian construction company Porr, which is also listed at the Vienna Stock Exchange.
January 9, 2014
Poland: Key Interest Rate to Remain Unchanged
As expected, the key interest rate will not be changed. According to Marek Belka, governor of the Polish National Bank (NBP), there was no need in monetary interventions.
January 9, 2014
Eurozone: Further Capital Injections at Banks Expected
The Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) is holding a summit today. The low inflation rate in the Eurozone is still a dilemma for the monetary authorities.
January 9, 2014
RBI Expects Growth to Accelerate in 2014
2014 marked by growth recovery, according to RBI Research.
January 9, 2014
Raiffeisen Bank International to Raise Capital
Austrian RBI will increase capital be € 2.25bn in summer 2014. This step was already long-awaited. The shareholder structure will change substantially.
January 8, 2014
RBI: No Withdrawal from Hungary
Due to massive losses, the second-largest lender in CESEE was said to leave the difficult Hungarian market. RBI denies such reports.
January 8, 2014
Orco Property Group: Cut in Number of Board Members
Shareholders of Luxembourger real estate company Orco Property Group voted to cut the number of board members from nine to five on Monday.
January 8, 2014
Hungary: SZKB to Take over Hungarian RBI?
Hungarian Economy Minister Mihaly Varga considers it unlikely for Szecheny Commercial Bank (SZKB) to take over the Hungarian affiliate of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI).
January 8, 2014
Meinl Bank: Plans of Growth in Czech Republic and UK
Meinl Bank has opened a new subsidiary in Prague. Growth plans for the core business in Central and Eastern Europe is well on its way, according to the bank’s officials.
January 7, 2014
Growing Evidence for RBI’s Withdrawal from Hungary
According to media reports, Hungarian partly nationalized Szechenyi Commercial Bank has placed an offer for the take-over of RBI’s Hungarian affiliate.
January 7, 2014
European Union: Private Trading of Banks to be Restricted
The European Union intends to severly restrict risky private trading of banks.
January 7, 2014
Hungary: Erste Group Confident
The third-largest lender in CESEE underlined that the Hungarian subsidiary will not be sold. The Austrian bank is confident to reach the turnaround soon.
January 6, 2014
First Offer for RBI´s Hungarian Subsidiary
The partly nationalized Hungarian lender Szechenyi Bank is interested in the Hungarian subsidiaries of the Austrian banks Erste Group and Raiffeisen Bank International.
January 6, 2014
Austria: „El Dorado for Borrowers“
According to Bank Austria´s management board member Dieter Hengl, Austria is an oasis for borrowers. Interest rates have reached an all-time low.
January 4, 2014
European Savers in Danger
Already this year, savers in the Eurozone may fear a compulsory tax on deposits, the Danish Saxo Bank says.
January 4, 2014
Eurozone: Number of Bank Credits Keeps Declining
The financial institutes in the Eurozone have been cutting back on granting credits. The lending for both business corporations and private persons has dropped by 2.3 percent.
January 3, 2014
Hungary: MKB Bank Sells Romanian Subsidiary
As announced in a statement Hungarian MKB Bank has sold its entire stake of its Romanian subsidiary.
January 3, 2014
Slovenia: Banking Sector Still in Turmoil
Small banks in Slovenia are reasons for concern in regard to their capital shortfalls.
January 3, 2014
Massive Change in Banking Landscape
The business model of banks comes more and more under pressure. In the next years, about the half of the bank shops will be closed, banking expert Hans-Gert Penzel predicts.
January 2, 2014
Poland: WSE to Register More IPOs in 2014
Since further companies will start listing at the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) in 2014 the Polish stock will become more attractive to investors.
January 2, 2014
Czech Republic: Household Debts Increasing
Debts to banks and other financial institutes by Czech households keep on increasing, according to a report by the Czech National Bank (CNB).
January 2, 2014
Austria: Hard Times for Regional Banks
Not only large banks are under pressure. In 2014, Austrian regional banks expect enormous challenges to deal with.
December 31, 2013
Austrian Public Debt Reaches New High
The total size of public debt was never before so high. In the next years, the public debt ratio will come close to 80% of GDP.
December 30, 2013
Austria: Purchasing Power Shrinks Further
According to Generali insurance group, Austrians expect that their real income shrinks further.
December 30, 2013
Poland: Komorowski Approves Pension Reform
Poland´s President Bronislaw Komorowski has signed the nationalization act. However, he will send the law to the Constitutional Court.
December 28, 2013
Hungary: Best Economic Outlook since 2002
After the country had left the double-dip recession, the Hungarian economic sentiment index has reached the highest level in more than 11 years. Nevertheless, the country still has to manage number of fundamental risks.
December 28, 2013
Croatia Needs Major Bridge Loan
In order to cover its fiscal shortfall, the youngest EU member country takes a bridge loan in the amount of € 200m.
December 28, 2013
Austria: „Lending Becomes More Expensive”
In an interview with the Austrian daily “Presse”, CEO of Hypo Vorarlberg Michael Grahammer talks about the future lending conditions. The corporate sector faces a drastic increase in borrowing costs.
December 27, 2013
Hypo Group: Austrian Government Seems Aimless
Although the restructuring of the nationalized Austrian lender is one of the most pressing issues, the Austrian government could not present a sound concept yet.
December 27, 2013
UniCredit Sells Bad Assets to Cerberus
The majority shareholder of Austrian Bawag acquires a portfolio worth €950m.
December 27, 2013
AXA Leaves Hungary
Austrian Vienna Insurance Group takes over 100% of AXA Hungary.
December 27, 2013
Slovenia: Fresh Money for Major Banks
Bonds of BAMC (Bank Asset Management Company), Slovenia’s bad bank, will be traded on Friday for the first time. The bonds will be forwarded to the country’s biggest banks in return for their bad loans.
December 27, 2013
VBAG: Further State Aids Questionable
The governing Austrian social democrats (SPÖ) are against providing further funds to the partly nationalized banking group.
December 26, 2013
