Latest News

Tightening of Credit Policy Expected

The new Basel III rules will result in a tightening in lending, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.

February 25, 2011

Leitl Fears Falling Back behind Asia

During a state visit to Singapore the President of the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKÖ) again urges the Austrian government to undertake reforms.

February 24, 2011

Libya: OMV Foresees no Shortages

The CEO of the Austrian OMV considers not to have underestimated the risks in Libya.

February 24, 2011

Increase of Inflation Forecast

The Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS) increases its inflation expectations to 2.4% due to the increase in energy prices

February 24, 2011

Strong Growth in Results for OMV

The Austrian energy company OMV records a strong increase in EBIT as well as profitability.

February 24, 2011

Austria's Insurance Industry Is on the Rise

In spite of still felt repercussions of the economic crisis, the Austrian insurance industry shows positive results in all divisions.

February 24, 2011

Leitl Demands More Support for SMEs

The Small Business Act must be also implemented at national level in a sustained way, says the President of the Austrian Economic Chamber.

February 24, 2011

Tourism: Small Increase in Overnight Stays

Results of the first half of the winter season 2010/11: 0.8% rise in overnight stays due to non-resident visitors.

February 24, 2011

Rosenbauer Group: Growing Sales and Results

EBIT could almost double, revenues rose by 10%. However, the order intake decreased by 14%.

February 24, 2011

Molterer Nominated as Vice-President of the EIB

Former Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Wilhelm Molterer is nominanted as candidate for Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB).

February 23, 2011

Sales Growth for Quehenberger

The Austrian logistics company posted higher sales in 2010 than expected, however without reaching the profit zone.

February 23, 2011

Libya Crisis: No Shortage of Supplies

The North African country ruled by massive unrest is Austria's second-largest oil supplier.

February 23, 2011

Manufacturing Industry Welcomes Red-White-Red Card"

IV-President Sorger: Innovative immigration system is an incentive for highly skilled workers; the abolition of the quota is a major political location signal.

February 23, 2011

Kazakhstan as a Chance for Foreign Trade

Austrian Economic Chamber promotes further development of economic relations with Kazakhstan.

February 23, 2011

WKÖ: "Clear Commitment to the Brenner Base Tunnel is Needed”

The chairman of the Austrian Economic Chamber considers the tunnel between Italy and Austria as a pioneering infrastructure project.

February 23, 2011

Vienna Stock Exchange: Winners and Losers (2011-02-22)

Daily News-Flash from the Vienna Stock Exchange: Upgrades & Downgrades, Winners & Losers.

February 23, 2011

Palfinger Announces Generation Change in its Supervisory Board

Hubert Palfinger and Alexander Exner retire from the Board. Hannes Palfinger and Heinrich Dieter Kiener are first-time nominees for election to the Board.

February 23, 2011

Intercell Issues Convertible Bond

The Austrian pharmaceutical company Intercell starts offering of € 30.8m senior convertible debt financing.

February 23, 2011

OMV Expects Reduction in Oil Production in Libya

The Austrian energy company, which also operates in Libya, cannot eliminate any possibility of a decline in the oil production anymore.

February 23, 2011

Agrana Expands in Russia

The Austrian sugar and starch company invests € 27.6m in fast-growing Russian market.

February 23, 2011

Wienerberger Still in the Red

The Austrian brick manufacturer experiences declining sales. Losses were reduced.

February 23, 2011

S&T Restructuring: Agreement with Banks Concluded

Detailed negotiations with banks were successfully concluded by the Austrian software company.

February 23, 2011

Libya: Withdrawal of Austrian Companies

Most Austrian companies are getting their employees out as the result of violent riots in Libya.

February 22, 2011

Southstream: Gazprom-OMV Cooperation

OMV and Russian Gazprom will work together on the construction of the Austrian part of the Southstream pipeline.

February 22, 2011

Brenner Tunnel: ÖBB will not pay

The Austrian Federal Railways will only accept to build the tunnel for € 10bn, if the costs are passed on to the state.

February 22, 2011

Sales Declining at Strabag

The Austrian construction company recorded an output volume at € 12.8bn in 2010. Order backlog up 6%

February 22, 2011

Pankl Racing Systems AG: Doubling Profits, Stagnating Sales

The Austrian component supplier´s EBIT doubled both in the 12-month and 15-month periods. In 2011, Pankl intends to raise sales by 10%.

February 22, 2011

Strongly rising Sales and Earnings for Lenzing Group

The Lenzing Group, an Austrian operator in cellulose fibers for the textile and nonwovens industry, achieved record results in the 2010 business year.

February 22, 2011

Saving in Austria Still Popular

Erste Bank’s forecast on savings and credit trends: Austrians plan to set aside approximately € 5,460 in 2011.

February 22, 2011

Record Sales for Würth Austria

The German supplier group recorded strong revenue growth. However, the operating result fell short of expectations

February 22, 2011

Austrian Economic Chamber pursues contacts in New Zealand

A business delegation led by WKÖ President Leitl visits New Zealand and Australia to strenghten economic relations.

February 22, 2011

Austrian Economic Chamber in Singapore

The Austrian Economic Chamber’s delegation pursues contacts with potential partners during the state visit of President Fischer.

February 22, 2011

OMV Observes Riots in Libya and Yemen „thoroughly“

The Austrian oil company OMV is not concerned by the current turmoils in Libya and Yemen. However, OMV watches the incidents permanently.

February 21, 2011

Knill Group Builds Factory in Russia for € 50m

The Austrian construction group records an order over € 50m for the establishment of the first optical fiber plant in Russia.

February 20, 2011

Record for Austrian Savings & Loan Associations

Savings & loan associations exceeded the one million mark for the second time in 2010. Cash disbursements amounted to € 3.1bn.

February 19, 2011

Minister for Social Affairs: Retirement Age to be Raised

The Austrian Minister for Social Affairs, Rudolf Hundstorfer, intends to raise the retirement age until 2025.

February 19, 2011

Hypo Group: Losses up to € 1.3bn

The emergency-nationalized Hypo Group is deep in the red zone as the result of high provisions and value adjustments.

February 19, 2011

Baumit Group: Steady Sales

The sales situation of the Austrian construction group shows hardly any changes: sales for € 790m were recorded in 2010.

February 19, 2011

High mobile phone use by Austrian SMEs

In three out of four SMEs every employee has a cell phone, and half the SMEs can imagine communicating exclusively via mobile telephony.

February 19, 2011

Free Trade Agreement with South Korea

WKÖ: Additional trade potential for Austrian companies in South Korea for € 350m.

February 19, 2011

Austrian Industrial Producer Prices up by 4.9%

Ongoing upward trend for industrial producer prices in December 2010: +4.9% compared to December 2009; Annual average 2010: +2.7% against 2009

February 19, 2011

voestalpine: EBIT Rise Three-Fold

The Austrian steel company voestalpine records a further progression of earnings in 3rd fiscal quarter 2010/11.

February 19, 2011

OMV Closes Acquisition of Pioneer’s Subsidiaries in Tunisia

OMV paid $ 800m plus $ 39.3m working capital and remains committed to maintaining a strong investment grade

February 19, 2011

Vienna Stock Exchange: Winners and Losers (2011-02-18)

Daily News-Flash from the Vienna Stock Exchange: Upgrades & Downgrades, Winners & Losers.

February 19, 2011

Erste Group manages € 1.25bn increase of Slovak Bonds

Strong interest for the Slovak sovereign bonds offering: total orders amounted to € 1.9bn from over 100 investors.

February 19, 2011

Kapsch: In-sourcing from China to Austria

The Viennese Kapsch CarrierCom brings the production of GSM systems from China back to Austria.

February 19, 2011

Lenzing Sells Plastics Filaments Business

The Austrian fiber manufacturer sells plastics filaments business to consortium headed by the US-American Global Equity Partners

February 19, 2011

The IHS insists on higher retirement age

The Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS) admonishes the Austrian government to raise the retirement age.

February 18, 2011

Spar: Moderate Growth in Market Share

The Austrian food trade group recorded a sales increase of 4.4% in the previous year. Growth in the CEE region turns out weaker.

February 18, 2011

Lufthansa Increases Pressure on AUA

The German parent company intends to convert the previously loss-making Austrian Airlines into a profitable company at last.

February 18, 2011