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Banking Industry
Member of the Board of the Stock Exchange to be Scharinger's Successor?
Heinrich Schaller, Member of the Board of the Vienna Stock Exchange is considered as favorite to succeed the longtime CEO of Raiffeisen Landesbank OÖ.
February 1, 2011
CA Immo: „Bid of UniCredit too low“
UniCredit intends to increase its stake on the Austrian CA Immo up to 29%. The board regards the bid of € 12.35 per share as being “too low”.
January 30, 2011
Hypo Group: Non-Performing Loans for € 8.5bn
The Hypo Group nationalized by the Austrian government is still deep in the red. The bank will be profitable as of 2012.
January 29, 2011
"Austria Does Not Deserve an AAA Rating"
The chief economist of the American Citigroup, Willem Buiter, also denies Austria, alongside the U.S. and the UK, the right to the AAA rating.
January 29, 2011
Unmodified Lending Policy of Austrian Banks
Austrian banks did not change their lending policy in the fourth quarter of 2010, no modifications are expected for the current quarter either.
January 28, 2011
Erste Bank to Expand its Corporate Customer Business
Business with local companies is set to grow twice as fast as the Austrian market. Share for SME business set to rise from 24 to 33% in the next 3 years.
January 28, 2011
New Heads of Credit Risk Management at Bank Austria
Heinz Tschiltsch new head of CEE Credit Operations, Harald Brückl responsible for Special Credit Austria department.
January 28, 2011
U.S. Embassy on Hypo Group: "Mini-empire in the Balkans"
New Wikileaks documents indicate that the U.S. Embassy analyzed the symbiosis between the Austrian financial and political scene.
January 27, 2011
Bank Assistance is Lucrative for the State
Contrary to fears, revenues of the bank rescue package more than double the refinancing costs.
January 26, 2011
Change in Leadership at Bank Austria
Paolo Fiorentino, has been elected as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Bank Austria. Francesco Giordano will act as future Chief Financial Officer.
January 22, 2011
Atrium Intends to Clarify Purported Event of Default
After the statement of the Austrian Meinl Bank to sue the real estate fund Atrium because of a “default of payment”, Atrium announces its point of view.
January 22, 2011
Hypo Group Purchase by BayernLB was "unrealistic"
The former chairman of BayernLB’s Supervisory Board said that the bank cheated itself on the purchase of the Hypo Group.
January 20, 2011
Weak Capital Base of Austrian Banks
According to the rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P), Austria's major banks are equipped with very weak equity by international standards.
January 20, 2011
Life Insurance Continues in Demand
While Austrian private investors have less savings, rights to pensions and life insurances rise.
January 19, 2011
Tax Treaty between Austria and Germany
Austria and Germany sign a revision protocol on double taxation agreements to implement the OECD standards of transparency and effective exchange of information.
January 19, 2011
Oberbank is Expanding
Oberbank boss Franz Gasselberger has big plans. The branch network will be expanded this year by eight new branches to 150. The banker’s focus of expansion is Vienna.
January 19, 2011
Volksbank: Romania Lowers Results
The losses in Romania constitute a distinct disadvantage, especially for the sale process of the East-Holding of the VBI.
January 19, 2011
The Hypo Group and its Consultants
In the months before and after the emergency nationalization of the Austrian Hypo Group, the Bank paid rich consulting fees despite all turbulences.
January 18, 2011
Volksbanken to Sell Share in RZB
According to newspaper reports, the Austrian Volksbanken Group sells a 6% share on Raiffeisen Zentralbank.
January 17, 2011
Bank Taxes: „Job Cuts or Price Increase”
According to Michael Ikrath, bank representative of the “Sparkassen”, the new charges for Austrian banks are the highest in Europe.
January 17, 2011
Austria's Funds Showed a Plus in 2010
2010 was another year of gains for Austrian funds: of 1601 funds, 1464, showed a positive performance.
January 15, 2011
Bank Austria Increases its CA-Immo Stake
The UniCredit-subsidiary intends to acquire a major stake of the Austrian real estate company CA Immo.
January 15, 2011
Investment Inhibition in Austrian Companies
The investment situation of Austrian companies is analyzed in the liquidity situation report by PwC. There are still frictions present on the capital market.
January 14, 2011
Customer Growth for Construction Savings Bank ABV
In 2010, the Austrian construction savings bank ABV granted building loans for € 287m.
January 14, 2011
Bank Austria Bids for Bank of Moscow
The UniCredit subsidiary is reported as holding talks with the Bank of Moscow to acquire a 46.5% stake.
January 14, 2011
Bawag and Post Share 520 Branches
Investments in the common branch network of the Austrian Post and the U.S. fund Cerberus owned Bawag are running.
January 14, 2011
Volksbanken Profitable Again
The Austrian Volksbanken Group generated profits in 2010. The state’s money should be repaid this year.
January 7, 2011
Suspicion on Money-Laundering at Hypo Group
Money transfers between the Carinthian Bank, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the Caribbean are currently being checked extensively by the judiciary.
January 7, 2011
Analysts: Outstanding Forecasts For ATX
According to analysts, the Austrian Stock Index ATX will continue its strong upward trend in 2011. Double-digit growth rates are expected.
January 7, 2011
Former Member of the Board of BayernLB Arrested
Gerhard Gribkowsky, whose foundation in Austria was concealed to the German judiciary and is now known, is in custody
January 5, 2011
FMA Prohibits Speculative Elements in Savings Accounts
The Austrian Financial Market Authority FMA specifies the characteristics of savings certificates. The traditional savings account is to remain non-speculative
January 5, 2011
Bank Tax in Poland?
The Polish government is considering levying taxes on banks already in 2011. From the Austrian perspective, Raiffeisen Bank International would be affected.
January 5, 2011
Hypo Group: Little Enlightment Expected from Grasser and Berlin
The Chairman of the Inquiry Committee on the Hypo Group expects little gain of information by the summons of Karl-Heinz Grasser and Tilo Berlin.
January 4, 2011
Secret Foundation of BayernLB in Austria
In the hearings on the purchase of Austria's Hypo Group, a former Member of the Board of BayernLB concealed the existence of a foundation in Austria.
January 3, 2011
New Responsibilities for the Financial Market Authority
As of 2011, the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) has to face new challenges. The focus is on the fight against money laundering.
January 3, 2011
RLB OÖ Records Substantial Growth
Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich experiences a 11.8% increase in operating profits. Cost-Income ratio further decreases.
December 31, 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
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
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
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
HTI Gets New Financing Structure
The stock exchange listed automobile supplier HTI ends its moratorium. Of € 140m original debts, € 104m are left.
December 27, 2010
Raiffeisen Negotiates over Polbank
The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) negotiates actively for the Polish Polbank.
December 23, 2010
Hypo Group: Sanader Denies Payments of Commissions
The former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, questioned in Salzburg, denies having ever received money from the Hypo Group.
December 22, 2010
Urgent Need for Capital at Austrian Banks
Walter Rothensteiner, Chairman of RZB as well as the Credit Division of the Economic Chamber, considers that domestic banks are under massive capital pressure.
December 21, 2010
Bank Austria-Fund “Real Invest Europe” Opens as from 21 December 2010
Revaluation of property portfolio complete. Commercial property in Stuttgart sold at market price.
December 21, 2010
Accusations Against Sanader Grow Stronger
Many clues point to improper activities by former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader in connection with the Hypo Group.
December 16, 2010
OeNB: Recovery of the Financial System in a Persistently Uncertain Environment
The OeNB considers that domestic banks benefit from the positive development in the CEE region. However, uncertainties stay on as before.
December 15, 2010
Complaint of Unconstitutionality against Securities Capital Gains Tax
Austria banks and investment companies file a complaint before the Constitutional Court against the as of next year introduced tax on securities capital gains.
December 14, 2010
Extensive Refinancing Needs by Austrian Banks
Due to the maturity of large loan volumes, Austria's banks will need at least € 20bn next year.
December 14, 2010