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)

Hypo Group´s Bankruptcy: Major Threat for Raiffeisen Sector

In case of Hypo Group Alpe Adria´s bankruptcy, the Austrian banking sector would have to absorb enormous write-offs. Above all, mortgage institutions in the Raiffeisen sector would be endangered.

December 19, 2013

Stable Outlook for CESEE Banking Industry

According to the U.S. rating agency fitch, the sector outlook remains stable in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. However, the well-known risks and weaknesses will persist.

December 19, 2013

Hungary: Slower Monetary Cuts

After another base rate cut, the next monetary steps will take more time.

December 18, 2013

Macedonian Banks Should Support Private Sector

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Stavreski calls upon Macedonian banks to support the private sector.

December 18, 2013

Slovenia: Three Arrestments at NLB

According to Slovenian authorities, three persons in the bank’s environment were arrested because of alleged malpractice.

December 18, 2013

Czech Republic: Rusnok to become CNB Board Member

Outgoing Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok will be appointed new board member of the Czech National Bank (CNB) by President Milos Zeman.

December 18, 2013

Hypo Group Insolvency: Total Damage of € 26bn

Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), warns of follow-up costs in case of a bankruptcy of the Austrian nationalized lender.

December 17, 2013

Austria: Major Banks Exhibit Significant Shortages in Core Capital Quota

Both Erste Group’s and RBI’s core capital quota is below the European average.

December 17, 2013

Banking Union: Bank Resolution as Hot Topic

The Finance Ministers of the Eurogroup countries are discussing the future of the banking union in Brussels today.

December 17, 2013

CESEE: More Robust than in 2008

The U.S. Federal Reserve wants to reduce its easing policy gradually. For emerging markets, the end of the loose monetary policy may prove challenging.

December 17, 2013

Erste Group to Reduce Goodwill

Erste Group reduces goodwill by about EUR 350 million.

December 17, 2013

Poland: PZU Places Binding Offer for Croatia Osiguranje

Polish insurance company PZU places a binding offer for Croatia Osiguranje (CO).

December 17, 2013

Hungary: Good News for Banks in Forex Proceedings

Banks operating in Hungary can feel relieved by the Supreme Court’s judgement.

December 16, 2013

NBS: Moderate Rise in Inflation

Moderate rise of inflation expected by the National Bank of Serbia (NBS).

December 16, 2013

Bulgaria: S&P Downgrade Criticized Sharply

Bulgarian Minister of Economy Dragomir Stynev does not agree with S&P´s view on Bulgaria´s creditworthiness.

December 16, 2013

Slovenia: Haircut for Junior Bondholders

Subordinated bond holders of the state-owned Slovenian banks will lose their investments completely. This is part of the recapitalization scheme.

December 14, 2013

MNB Replaces Hungarian Banking Industry

In order to push economic growth rates, Hungary´s National Bank continues to support the subsidized loan program. The support should help to boost the construction of real estate.

December 14, 2013

Bank Austria`s Headquarter Sold

The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik has bought the headquarter building of the largest Austrian bank.

December 14, 2013

Emerging Markets Face Decrease in Risk Appetite

Foreign investors become more and more cautious about investing in emerging markets. Regions like Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are highly dependent on foreign sentiments.

December 14, 2013

Austrian Banking Industry Has to Fear Bank Tax Increase

At the end of this week, the Austrian social democrats and the conservatives agreed on continuing their coalition. Although the fiscal strategy is not fully known yet, a bank tax increase is likely.

December 14, 2013

Croatia: Privatization of HPB Fails

The privatization of the Croat Postal Bank (HPB) has failed for the time being. For the potential buyers, HPB is too risky.

December 13, 2013

Positive Respond to Slovenian Bank Recapitalization Plans

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development responds positively to the results of the asset quality review of Slovenian banks and the corresponding plans of the government.

December 13, 2013

Capital Injection for Hypo Group Approved

In the general assembley of Hypo Group the path was cleared for a further capital injection in the amount of € 800m.

December 13, 2013

Slovenia Pushes Forward with Privatizations

In spite of the capital shortfall of € 4.78bn of the banks in Slovenia, the bank stress test was passed by the financial institutes.

December 13, 2013

Croatia: Erste Offer Rejected

Austrian Erste Group intended to aquire Croatian HPB. However, the offer was rejected by the Finance Ministry as the purchase price was considered too low.

December 13, 2013

Austrians Hold More Cash Reserves

According to the Austrian National Bank, Austrian savers have reduced their deposits at Austrian banks. In return, cash reserves have risen.

December 12, 2013

Hungary: Stable Outlook Yet Still Junk Status

In spite of Matolcsy, governor of the Hungarian National Bank (MNB), demanding a better rating for the country’s credibility, the major rating agencies have not raised them.

December 12, 2013

Serbia: NBS FX Reserves Amounted to More than € 10,362m at End-November

FX Reserves and IFEM movements in November.

December 12, 2013

Austria: Hypo Group Insolvency Best Solution for Taxpayers

According to consulting agency Oliver Wyman, an insolvency of ailing bank Hypo Group would be the most favorable option for taxpayers as instead of domestic banks foreign banking institutes will be burdened.

December 12, 2013

Slovenian Banks Exhibit Capital Gap of Almost € 5bn

The capital gap of Slovenian banks comes at a total of 4.78bn, according to the stress test published today.

December 12, 2013

Slovenia Issues Treasury Bills

On Wednesday Slovenia issued a treasury bill with a maturity of three and a half years in the amount of € 45m. The measure was part of the budget liquidity operation.

December 12, 2013

Czech Republic: Banking Sector Proves Stable

According to the latest results of the bank stress test by the Czech National Bank (CNB), the domestic financial institutes remain resistant to a potential negative development.

December 12, 2013

Austrian Banking Industry Depends on Russia and Czech Republic

For the Austrian banking sector, the CESEE region is highly heterogeneous. In the first six months of 2013, net earnings totaled € 1.4bn in the region.

December 12, 2013

Austria: Nowotny Reiterates Statement

Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), reiterated his view on Hypo Group.

December 11, 2013

No Major Progresses in Banking Union

Tuesday night the Finance Ministers of the European Union have gradually approached on the outstanding issues in the handling with banks threatened by bankruptcy.

December 11, 2013

Ten Capital Market Themes for 2014 by Raiffeisenbank

Leading indicators show a recovery of global growth.

December 11, 2013

OeNB Calls on Austrian Banks to Strengthen Their Capital Base Further

Presentation of the Financial Stability Report 26 of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB).

December 11, 2013

Austria: Federation of Trade Unions Warns of Privatizations

The Austrian Federation of Trade Unions warns the Austrian state not to push through with further privatizations.

December 11, 2013

Hypo Group Alpe Adria to Receive Next Capital Injection

On Friday the ailing bank is expected to receive fresh money again in association with the extraordinary general meeting.

December 11, 2013

Slovenia: Bank Bailout Plan Is Completed

Tomorrow, December 12, the results of the bank asset review will be published. The next steps have been determined already in advance.

December 11, 2013

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Liebscher Against Haircut

Klaus Liebscher, chairman of Hypo Group’s supervisory board, is strictly against a debt cut at the nationalized bank. He expects a decision about a bad bank only in the first quarter next year.

December 10, 2013

Serbia: World Bank Attaches Loan to New Laws

The World Bank has attached the loan in the amount of US-$ 250m (€ 183m) for Serbia to the implementation of three important laws within this year still.

December 10, 2013

Improving Situation for Banks in CEE

Raiffeisen analysis getting a notch more optimistic on CEE banks.

December 10, 2013

Slovenia Still Wants to Solve Problems on Its Own

According to head of Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the highly indebted country intends to get a grip on the problems of its banking sector.

December 10, 2013

NKBM´s CEO Demonstrates Optimism

In an interview with the Slovenian STA, Ales Hauc stressed that the second-largest Slovenian lender has a positive future.

December 10, 2013

Poland: Parliament Approves Nationalization of Pension Fund

Today, the Polish Lower House approved the controversial pension reform. With the reform, the Polish pension system will be partly re-nationalized.

December 10, 2013

EU Demands € 55bn for Banking Union

The Finance Ministers of the European Union are still negotiating about a mechanism aimed at preventing states from having to take over financial difficulties from banks, the banking union.

December 9, 2013

Wifo: Austrian Economic Growth Still Sluggish

Seasonally adjusted and corrected for working day effects, GDP increased by 0.2 percent compared to the second quarter. The upturn becomes evident only in a very moderate pace.

December 9, 2013

OTP Interested in MKB

Sandor Csanyi, CEO of the largest Hungrian lender OTP, considers taking over the rival MKB.

December 9, 2013

Austrian Banking Sector: € 35bn NPL

Due to the gloomy economic situation in CESEE and the stagnating domestic economy, Austrian banks suffer from growing non-performing loans.

December 9, 2013