Latest News

Drastic Job Cut at ÖBB

The Austrian Federal Railways cuts 650 posts at its freight division Rail Cargo Austria (RCA).

January 1, 2011

Austrian Industry Remains on Growth Course

Bank Austria Purchasing Managers’ Index down slightly in November, but strong growth persists. Order intake increased as well as employment.

January 1, 2011

RLB OÖ Records Substantial Growth

Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich experiences a 11.8% increase in operating profits. Cost-Income ratio further decreases.

December 31, 2010

Austria's Minister of Social Affairs Wants to Extend the Years of Employment

Rudolf Hundstorfer wants to see older workers work longer, and is trying to get the consensus of businesses.

December 31, 2010

VBI Romania is a Source of Worries for ÖVAG

Volksbank International (VBI) is to be sold by the Austrian Volksbanken Group. The Romanian subsidiary keeps the group from doing so.

December 31, 2010

State Secretary for Finance: Euro-bonds as a Medium-term Strategy

The Austrian State Secretary for Finance, Andreas Schieder, does not discard Euro-bonds, against the majority view of German and Austrian politicians.

December 31, 2010

Massive Rise of Debt in the Public Sector

Austria's debt is rising dramatically. Not only the state budget, but also the provinces and municipalities are the major contributors to this situation.

December 31, 2010

Structural Change in Austrian Winter Tourism

Despite the current good bookings in Austrian winter tourism, the industry will have to reorient in the long term. Guests may fail to appear soon.

December 31, 2010

Changes in Living Standard of Austrians

A WIFO study compares the required average working time of industrial workers to the purchase of goods and services over the passage of time.

December 31, 2010

Sales Drops in Austrian Construction Industry

The construction output value in building construction and engineering decreased by 3.5% from January to September 2010. The order situation is also deteriorating.

December 31, 2010

Splitting-off at IT Service Provider Beko

The shareholders of the Austrian Beko Holding are about to decide a splitting-off of Cross Informatik GmbH. Besides, ownership structure of Beko will change.

December 31, 2010

Profit Warning at S&T

The Q4 data of the Austrian software consulting company show negative operational results.

December 31, 2010

Atrium Reacts Sharply to Meinl´s Lawsuit

Atrium European Real Estate Ltd comments the recent lawsuit by Meinl Bank: “A desperate response.”

December 31, 2010

Austria's Material Goods Production Increases Massively

The production trend in the manufacturing and construction industry shows a positive effect in September 2010. Sales increased by 10.3%.

December 31, 2010

Kovats also Suffers Private Plight

The chairman of the insolvent A-Tec, Mirko Kovats, has to grant Raiffeisen liens on his personal properties

December 31, 2010

Immofinanz Sues Lobbyist

The Austrian real estate group Immofinanz sues its former adviser, Walter Meischberger, because of the "Buwog Affair".

December 30, 2010

Nowotny Calls for Consistent Budget Consolidation

The Governor of the OeNB draws balance at the end of the year and gives his outlook on the challenges for 2011

December 30, 2010

Austria's Labor Market Opens

As of May 1, 2011 the German and Austrian labor markets open for the new EU citizens. Romania and Bulgaria will follow suit in 2013.

December 30, 2010

Billion Worth Qatar Holding Explores Investment Opportunities

The Austrian economy expects closer relations and potential export opportunities as the result of the state visit of the Emir of Qatar.

December 30, 2010

Record performance for the ATX

The main index of the Vienna Stock Exchange managed to get into a top position in international comparisons. The losses caused by the crisis could be partially offset.

December 30, 2010

WIFO Director: "Crisis was not Taken Advantage of to Introduce Reforms"

In an interview with the newspaper "Kurier", the head of the WIFO criticizes the lack of commitment to reforms. His perspectives for Austria are nevertheless optimistic.

December 30, 2010

Analysts Expect ATX to Underperform in January

The main index of the Vienna Stock Exchange experienced a strong rally in December. Thus, ATX outperformed compared to other European indices.

December 30, 2010

Creditors Wish Kovat´s Retreat

The creditors of the insolvent Austrian technology Group A-Tec prefer Mirko Kovats to retreat from his position as CEO.

December 30, 2010

Stronach Sells Shares to Magna

The founder and long-time Chairman of the board of the Austria-Canadian Magna Group, Frank Stronach, only holds 5.14% now.

December 30, 2010

A-Tec: Restructuring Plan Accepted

The survival of the Austrian A-Tec is provisionally secure. An investor has to be found until mid-year.

December 30, 2010

ÖVAG: Sales Process of East-holding is Under Way

For the coming year, the Austrian Voksbanken are planning to restructure the Group. A buyer is currently being sought for the East-holding.

December 30, 2010

Meinl Starts New Actions against Atrium

The exchange of blows between Meinl Bank and Atrium is getting more violent. Meinl Bank is presently filing a claim before the Arbitration Court of the Economic Chamber.

December 29, 2010

WIFO: Lack of Competition in Austria

According to WIFO, lack of competition is causing a growth bottleneck in Austria and requires legal action by the government and the EU.

December 29, 2010

State Visit from Qatar in Austria

As part of a three-day state visit by the Head of State of Qatar, talks on economic topics are mainly planned.

December 29, 2010

Leitl Demands Reforms

The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber calls for more Government work in administration, health and education.

December 29, 2010

Good Prospects for Austrian Exports

The outlook for 2010 is favorable after the sharp decline of Austrian goods exports in the crisis year 2009 (-20.2%), .

December 29, 2010

Polytec Sells Italian Subsidiary

Today Polytec Holding AG signed an agreement to sell 100% of the shares of Polytec Composites Italia (PCI) to Industrie Metallvakuum Ranger S.p.a. (IMR).

December 29, 2010

Bank Austria CEO Cernko: Austrian Banks Fight Securities Tax

The CEO of Bank Austria, Willibald Cernko, was interviewed by the newspaper “Kurier”. He announced that Austrian Banks will call the Constitutional Court.

December 29, 2010

Illegal Employment Grows

One of four Austrian firms employs illegal workers from abroad.

December 29, 2010

ATX Forecast 2011: High Yields, High Volatility

RLB Niederösterreich-Wien predicts a very good year for security investments and expects double-digit yields.

December 29, 2010

Profits Increase for Banks in Austria

The profitability in the first three quarters of 2010 of Austrian banks shows continued strong growth.

December 29, 2010

Spindelegger: Turkey's Joining the EU Will Not Happen Before 2024

In an interview with the "Wirtschaftsblatt", the Austrian Foreign Minister stresses the relevance of Turkey. Croatia should come into the EU much earlier EU.

December 29, 2010

Italian Support for Nabucco

The Italian power company Edison cooperates with the Nabucco gas pipeline project. The aim is to create synergies.

December 28, 2010

REWE Group Focuses on Wind Power

6500 MWh of electricity per year are generated by wind turbines in the Lower Austrian Haindorf. The energy produced is bought by the REWE Group.

December 28, 2010

Chamber of Labor Calls for a More Equitable Distribution

Corporate profits on one hand and reduced working hours, dismissals and wage cuts on the other, are not compatible for the Chamber of Labor.

December 28, 2010

Meinl Bank Shows Losses

Due to the elimination of investments, Meinl Bank slips into the red zone. The loss amounts to € 37m.

December 28, 2010

Raiffeisen Foresees a Weak Decade for Europe

RLB Niederösterreich-Wien expects hardly any economic growth, particularly in the euro countries. Austria is however relatively well positioned.

December 28, 2010

A-Tec: Significant Increase of Quota is Probable

According to what is being heard about the negotiations of the creditors, it is clear that the quota should be increased. The vote on the restructuring plan takes place on Wednesday.

December 28, 2010

Critical Phase for A-Tec

Next Wednesday the insolvent company’s restructuring plan will be submitted. Afterwards, there will remain two weeks remain for the adoption of the concept.

December 28, 2010

Garage Operator Company List Expands to Hungary

The Vienna-based List Group, which acts as real estate company, acquired the Wipark Group in Hungary.

December 28, 2010

Sanader Remains in Extradition Custody

Custody prior to extradition was imposed on the former Croatian Prime Minister Sanader. He complains about the "arbitrariness of the Croatian authorities".

December 28, 2010

Tourists from Russia Increase

The number of Russian guests in Austria continues on the rise. A double-digit growth might even be possible again.

December 28, 2010

Czech Railways Considers to Acquire ÖBB-Railjets

The Austrian Federal Railways doesn´t want to exercise its option to buy further Railjets from Siemens.

December 28, 2010

Further Rise in Energy Prices for Households

Austrian energy prices in November 2010 were higher by 5.8% compared to the previous year. Only gas became cheaper.

December 27, 2010

AUA has to Cancel Flight to the U.S.

Persistent snowstorms in the eastern United States, have forced Austrian Airlines to cancel a flight to New York, as local airports there are closed.

December 27, 2010