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)

Hungary Rejects Extradiction of Head of Mol

A Hungarian court rejected the extradiction of Zsolt Hernadi, who is alleged of having bribed former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanander.

October 7, 2013

CA Immo to Sell Mercedes Benz Headquarters in Berlin

After selling Tower 185 in Frankfurt, CA Immo will now sell the headquarters of Mercedes Benz in Berlin. By this measure, debts will decline significantly for the Austrian real estate company.

October 7, 2013

Porr: Capital Increase and Rise in Profits Expected

CEO of listed Austrian construction company Porr Karl-Heinz Strauss is still in favor of a capital increase in 2014 or 2015 and calls upon the government to create “projects for the future”.

October 7, 2013

Bulgaria Takes out Schuldschein Note Loan via German Banks

The Bulgarian government has decided to take out a Schuldschein note loan in the amount of € 360m through German banks, media reports claim.

October 7, 2013

Political Crisis in Slovenia to Sharpen Further

The power struggle between Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek and Ljubljana´s mayor Zoran Jankovic escalates. Jankovic is said to receive more support from his party.

October 5, 2013

Hungary: Easing Cycle Nears Its End

After the interest cut last week, there is still downward potential. However, MNB must be cautious, Hungary´s rate setter Gyula Pleschinger told WSJ.

October 4, 2013

Raiffeisen Research: CESEE Deserves Better Credit Ratings

Analysts of Raiffeisen Research think that Austria´s sovereign debt rating is worse than the rating agencies say. The CESEE region, by contrast, is seen too critically, Raiffeisen Research argues.

October 4, 2013

CESEE: Recovery Slow, but Stable

Corporate sentiment improving in major CEE countries as well, as the economic recovery begins to take root. Low point in interest rates has essentially been reached, rises in yields to follow trends in the developed markets, RZB says.

October 4, 2013

Sevelda: Not the Right Time for Capital Increase

In an interview with Financial Times (FT) Karl Sevelda, CEO of RBI, states that a capital increase would be difficult at the moment due to an unfavorable economic environment.

October 4, 2013

Wifo: Austrian Economy Sees Upturn

Today the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (Wifo) has released its prognosis for 2013 and 2014. The institute sees the first signs of an economic recovery.

October 4, 2013

Keuschnigg Advises Austria to be Patient

According to Keuschnigg it was not possible to increase the core capital quota of the banks to the level necessary or to reduce public debts by 120 percent in two years only.

October 4, 2013

Austria: Downsizing Models for Hypo

Currently, everything revolves around the establishing of a bad bank despite of Finance Minister Maria Fekter’s objection. However, now, after the elections, this issue needs to be resolved.

October 4, 2013

Economic Recovery and Interest Rate Turnaround Also in Austria?

Not only Germany but also the peripheral areas of the European Union see economic recovery supported by an increasing export activity.

October 3, 2013

Romania: Consumption Remains Sluggish

In order to support Romania´s economy, the National Bank of Romania continues its monetary easing policy.

October 3, 2013

Poland Increases Funding for SMEs

According to Polish Finance Minister Rostowski, the government plans on extending a funding program for the support of small and medium sized companies in order to improve the country’s economy.

October 3, 2013

Poland: NBP Holds Interest Rate Flat

In order to support Poland´s economy, the Council of Polish National Bank has decided to keep the base rate at its historic low.

October 3, 2013

COO Daniel Riedl appointed CEO of BUWOG

The 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of IMMOFINANZ AG, Daniel Riedl was appointed as CEO of the subsidiary Buwog. Riedl will prepare Buwog´s IPO.

October 3, 2013

Pecik to Buy Hypo Group´s SEE-Affiliates?

The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik is said to be interested in acquiring the Southeast European subsidiaries of nationalized Hypo Group.

October 2, 2013

Economic Upturn in Austria, Eurozone and CEE

Turbulent Emerging Market conditions have little impact on CEE.

October 2, 2013

VIG to Issue Subordinated Bond

Vienna Insurance Group successfully launched a subordinated bond.

October 2, 2013

Bulgaria: Major Decrease of Insurance Business

The insurance industry saw a strong decrease of business of 13 percent in only four years.

October 2, 2013

Croatia Tries to Avoid Bail-Out by IMF

The 28th EU member country has severe fiscal problems. In order to avoid the IMF, Croatia borrows about $ 1.5bn on the U.S. market.

October 2, 2013

IMF Watches Serbia Carefully

Serbia still considers entering a loan agreement with the IMF. First talks were initiated this week.

October 1, 2013

Slovenia: Asset Quality Deteriorates Rapidly

The government of the financially stricken country comes more and more under pressure. In meantime, about 17% of the Slovenian loans are classified as “risky”.

October 1, 2013

Poland: Majority Still against Joining Eurozone

According to a poll, 52 percent of Polish citizens regard the country’s joining the single currency union will be bad for the country.

October 1, 2013

Romania Cuts Base Rate to Record Low

The Romanian Central Bank has cut the base rate to a record low of 4.25 percent.

September 30, 2013

Rosneft Wants to Take over Majority of TNK-BP

The World’s biggest oil company Rosneft intends taking over British-Russian joint venture TNK-BP at the beginning of next year.

September 30, 2013

Hypo Group: Sale of Assets in SEE to Take Forms

The nationalized Austrian bank Hypo Group sells its assets in Southeastern Europe. The SEE-holding company will be established until the beginning of October.

September 29, 2013

CESEE: Consumer Loans Decline Considerably

Since 2008, Austrian consumers tend to refrain from consumer credits. In the CESEE countries, the downward trend is even more obvious.

September 29, 2013

Poland: Pension Scheme Reform to be Eased

At the beginning of September, Poland´s government decided to re-nationalize the pension system. Now, the government considers relativizing the reform.

September 28, 2013

Austria: Fitch Confirms Triple A

Austria´s main weak point is the banking sector, the rating agency criticizes.

September 28, 2013

Hungary is Seeking New Creditors

The Hungarian public debt agency AKK intends to sell more sovereign bonds in Asia. Compared to other European countries, Hungary´s debt burden causes severe difficulties.

September 27, 2013

RBI Upgrades GDP Growth Forecasts

Economic recovery reshuffles the cards.

September 26, 2013

Does Austria Need Further Privatizations?

Voestalpine´s CEO Wolfgang Eder wants to support the Vienna Stock Exchange. Without further privatizations, the stock market in Vienna could be history soon.

September 24, 2013 · Updated: September 25, 2013; 11:30

RBI: Drastic Austerity Measures Ahead

Vienna-listed Raiffeisen Bank International will have to cut costs by € 450m within 3 years.

September 25, 2013 · Updated: September 25, 2013; 10:41

Uniqa´s Re-IPO: Focus on CESEE

The Austrian insurance group plans a capital increase of € 750m. Uniqa´s CEO Andreas Brandstetter underlines the growth story in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe.

September 24, 2013

Croatia to Issue Dollar Bonds

In order to cover its foreign exchange needs, Croatia will issue a dollar bond with a size of $ 2.7bn.

September 24, 2013

Uniqa Starts Major Capital Increase

The second-biggest Austrian insurance group resolves on capital increase and announces price range. Proceeds will reach about € 750m.

September 23, 2013

Vienna Insurance Group Evaluates Bond Issuance

In view of the current interesting environment for corporate bonds, management of VIG considers a subordinated bond transaction.

September 23, 2013

Poland: Warsaw Stock Exchange to Introduce WIG30

The new index covers thirty enterprises instead of formerly twenty and reduced the dominance of the banking industry.

September 23, 2013

RBI: Sevelda to Remain CEO unil 2017

Karl Sevelda, who was appointed new CEO of listed Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) at the beginning of June, does not regard himself as interim head of the bank.

September 23, 2013

Slovenia in a Decisive Phase

According to Bostjan Jazbec, Govenor of the Bank of Slovenia, the coming weeks will be critical for the small Eurozone member country.

September 23, 2013

Further Nationalizations in Hungary?

In order to acquire further foreign-owned bank and energy companies, Hungary issues new sovereign bonds.

September 23, 2013

Croatia: Foreign Exchange Loan Conversion Costs € 50m

In order to help over-indebted Croat households, the government plans to shift the burden to the banking sector.

September 21, 2013

Head of Slovenia’s Chief Bank Arrested

Janko Medja, manager of Slovenia’s most important bank NLB, was arrested because of suspicion of corruption.

September 20, 2013

Banking in CESEE: Risk Provisions to Decline

Analysts of Austrian Erste Group expect the Eurozone and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe to recover. The banking sector participates in the economic upwsing.

September 20, 2013

Bank Austria to Close Subsidiaries in Hungary

Because of higher costs caused by a tax on financial transaction, which was introduced during the current year, the affiliate of Italian UniCredit intends to downsize operations in Hungary.

September 19, 2013

Romania: BBB-Rating for State Bonds

Fitch Ratings has assigned Romania's EUR1.5bn bond a 'BBB-' rating

September 18, 2013

Austrian Banking Sector Proves Stable

The U.S. rating agency Fitch confirms the A-rating for Erste Group, RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International), Bank Austria and VBAG.

September 18, 2013

CESEE Banking: Funding Improves

Regarding the stability of the banking system in the CESEE region, there are still substantial differences between the countries.

September 18, 2013