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The United States of America in Austria | American Expats in Vienna
Austria and the U.S. - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, investment, diplomacy, culture and tourism


CEE Countries Condemn Russian Intervention in Ukraine

Foreign Ministers of the Visegrad countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) want to strengthen the EU defense policy. Poland intensifies its military cooperation with the U.S.
March 8, 2014


Poland: Banks Expected to Preserve Ratings

According to US rating agency Standard&Poor;’s, Polish banks will be able to keep their credit ratings this year.
March 4, 2014


Hypo Group: “Worst Thing If Government Does Not Make Decision”

According to Felderer, President of the Fiscal Council, a downgrade in the country rating must not be taken “too seriously”.
February 28, 2014


Romania: Ponta Clinging to Leadership

Reforms in Romania will be carried out even if Ponta’s new government’s majority will be reduced in parliament.
February 27, 2014


Hypo Group: New Figures Added to Number Games

The number games in regard to Hypo Group’s downsizing to not seem to cease. New figures will be released by the bank’s task force at the beginning of next week.
February 27, 2014


Hypo Group: Nowotny to Replace Liebscher

After Liebscher, head of Hypo Group’s task force, announced throwing in the towel Nowotny, Governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), will become his successor.
February 22, 2014


Austria: Investment Banker Part of Hypo’s Expert Group

A former investment banker is supposed to support Austrian government in the Hypo Group issue.
February 21, 2014


CEE Financial Markets under Pressure as Riots Continue in Ukraine

CEE markets under pressure as Ukraine violence heats up. Biggest direct risk to Polish Zloty, but also to Hungarian Forint and Romanian Leu.
February 21, 2014


Fitch Keeps Rating for Austria at High Level

According to the Rating agency the downsizing of Hypo Group will burden the debt rate. However, the outlook for the country’s credibility was left at a “stable” outlook.
February 21, 2014


Austria: Rating Endangered

US-based rating agency Fitch will update its country rating for Austria tomorrow. Finance Minister Spindelegger is in favor of a haircut for investors of Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
February 20, 2014


Liebscher: Government Is to Blame

Head of Hypo Group’s Task Force Klaus Liebscher rejects being turned into the scapegoat of delaying important decisions about the downsizing of the problem bank. Instead, he points his finger to the Austrian government.
February 20, 2014


Austria Most Popular Country among Hungarians

93 percent of Hungarians feel compassion towards Austria.
February 19, 2014


Low Expectations in Nuclear Talks with Iran in Vienna

Optimism among officials about successful talks to end Iran’s nuclear program is restrained.
February 19, 2014


Picker: Hypo to Cost Taxpayers “Only” up to € 4bn

According to CEO of Hypo Group Alpe Adria Picker, the ailing bank will burden taxpayers with “only“ € 4bn at the most. Head of IHS, Keuschnigg, warns the Austrian policy-makers of forwarding costs to bondholders.
February 19, 2014


Austria: Moody’s Downgrades Four Bonds

Moody’s downgraded four bonds of Austrian banks on Tuesday. The outlook is negative.
February 19, 2014


Government Downplaying Effects of Hypo Group Desaster

Today, both Chancellor Werner Faymann and Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger had to explain their actions in regard to Hypo Group Alpe Adria in parliament.
February 17, 2014


Cernko: Wealthy to Support R&D in Austria

The CEO of Bank Austria calls upon the Austrian government to take into consideration the funding of research and development by wealthy individuals and regard this as part of their “tax duty”.
February 12, 2014


Bawag: Losses for Cerberus Running into Billions

There are persistent rumors that the U.S. investor may leave the Austrian bank. For Cerberus, Bawag is a disaster.
February 11, 2014


Ukraine: RBI Examines Offers

Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) has received a total of twelve offers for its Ukranian affiliate.
February 10, 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


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


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


Bawag to Be Sold?

According to rumours, the fifth largest Austrian lender may be sold.
January 31, 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


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


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


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


Austria: OeNB Forecasts Modest Economic Growth

According to the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) economic growth in Austria only came at 0.3 percent last year.
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


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


„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


Austria: Fischer Calls Upon Respect of Human Rights

At the New Year Reception for the diplomatic corps in Austria, President Heinz Fischer called upon the strict compliance to human rights.
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


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


Slovenia: Controversies over Ambassador’s Statements

Joseph Mussomeli, US ambassador to Slovenia, needs to justify himself to the Slovenian Foreign Ministry over his statements about the country’s independence.
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


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


$ 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


Citizens from CEE Major Benefit for EU

A current paper published by the OECD shows that the European Union benefits from migration of Eastern European citizens as they compensate imbalances in the labor markets.
January 15, 2014


Sajdik New Chairman of UN ECOSOC

The Austrian diplomat Martin Sajdik became President of the Economic and Social Council, which is one of the most important bodies of the UN.
January 15, 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


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


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


RBI Expects Growth to Accelerate in 2014

2014 marked by growth recovery, according to RBI Research.
January 9, 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


Romania: Slight Increase in FX Reserves

In December 2013 FX reserves increased slightly compared to the previous month.
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


CEE: Economic Sentiment Cautiously Optimistic

The economic sentiment for Eastern European countries is becoming more optimistic, however, only cautiously. Poland is on top of the list of economists at JP Morgan.
January 2, 2014


Bank Austria Considers Establishing Sub-Brand

In the next years, the Austrian subsidiary of Italian UniCredit wants to put more effort into the development of the mobile and online banking segment.
December 31, 2013