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CESEE
Czech Republic: Consumer Loans Weaken
The Czech loan growth is mainly driven by housing loans. The overal loan structure is improving, the NPL level remains flat.
November 1, 2013
Slovak Banking Industry Records Growing Net Income
In the first nine months of 2013, Slovakia´s banking sector recorded a total net profit of € 449m.
November 1, 2013
Visegrad Countries Encourage Western Balkans to Join EU
Representatives from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary support the EU accession of Western Balkan countries.
October 31, 2013
Banks Jeopardize Austrian Triple-A Rating
In case further aids will become imminent, Austria could lose its rating.
October 31, 2013
Lopatka: EU Enlargement Process of Western Balkans Decisive for Austria
“Non-Enlargement” of Western Balkan states would be fatal for Austrian businesses operating in the region and the national economy.
October 31, 2013
Higher Cost Pressure for Austrian Banking Industry
Due to national and international regulations, Austrian banks have to bear higher costs than their foreign competitors.
October 31, 2013
Slovenia on Top of Prosperous Countries in Emerging Europe
Slovenia is leading the list of prosperous countries in Emerging Europe. Bulgaria is on the last position.
October 30, 2013
Immofinanz to Build Shopping Center in Poland
With Warbud SA, the general contractor, listed real estate company Immofinanz will establish a shopping center for around € 95m in Poland.
October 30, 2013
Erste Group Expects Operating Result to Decline Significantly in 2013
Erste Group posts net profit of EUR 430.3 million in the first nine months of 2013; risk costs decline.
October 30, 2013
CESEE: Poland is Most Business-Friendly
According to the latest “Doing Business” report published by the World Bank, Poland is the most business-friendly country in the CESEE region.
October 29, 2013
BGZ: Santander Aims to Expand into Poland
In order to complete its local affiliate Bank Zachodni WBK, Spanish Santander intends to take over the Polish lender BGZ.
October 29, 2013
CESEE: „The Growth Model Was not Sustainable“
Franz Seiringer, economist at EBRD, underlines that the CESEE countries are on the right track. The region is working on a new growth model, he told “Wirtschaftsblatt”.
October 29, 2013
Southeastern Europe Initiates Common Economic Strategy
In Croatia´s capital Zagreb, the Southeast European countries agreed on putting more common effort into innovation based growth strategies.
October 26, 2013
Without CESEE Business Alpine Would Still Exist
According to reports by auditor BDO and liquidator Stephan Riel, business in Austria remained profitable for insolvent construction company. If Alpine had never expanded business to CESEE it would still exist.
October 25, 2013
Hypo Group: Worst Expectations May be Exceeded
For the Austrian state, the ailing nationalized banking group may become a financial GSA. The legal dispute with the former owner BayernLB bears enormous dangers for Austria´s public finance.
October 25, 2013
Public Debt: CESEE Countries Below EU Average
At the end of the first half of 2013, the EU public debt quota reached 86.8% of GDP. Western Europe´s public debt level is significantly higher than in Eastern Europe.
October 23, 2013
Bank Austria Issues € 500m Bond
Bank Austria, part of Italian major bank UniCredit and in charge of CESEE business, is raising money from the capital market.
October 22, 2013
Southeastern Europe: Dramatic Labor Market Conditions
In Southeastern Europe, the labor market conditions are similarly bad as in Southern Europe. Above all, youth unemployment is extremely high.
October 22, 2013
Poland: IMF Upgrades Growth Forecasts
According to the IMF, Poland´s GDP growth will reach 2.4%. In the prior forecast, the IMF anticipated a 2.2% growth rate.
October 21, 2013
Slovakia: New Burden for Insurance Industry
The Slovak government extends special taxes for companies operating regulated sectors. The bank tax will be abolished in the course of the next years.
October 21, 2013
Conwert Changes Strategy
The Vienna-listed real estate group will strengthen its portfolio in Germany. Moreover, conwert faces a change in leadership.
October 20, 2013
“Problems in the CESEE Region Are Mainly Fundamental”
In an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza, Reza Moghadam, director of the IMF´s European Department, says that the weakness of the CESEE region is not only cyclical.
October 18, 2013
Telekom Austria: No Need for Capital Increase
Against all rumors, Telekom Austria is doing just fine. As reported by “Handelsblatt” insiders claim that a capital increase, which was speculated on, is currently not an issue.
October 18, 2013
Nowotny Demands Same Rules for All Banks
Govenor Nowotny urges for a discussion about the capital requirements (Basel III) for banks, which applies only for the major banking institutes in the US but for all banks in Europe.
October 18, 2013
RBI Considers Participation in Hypo Group’s Bad Bank
In a radio interview with “Ö1”, Karl Sevelda, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), announced that he regards a particpation of his bank as possible.
October 18, 2013
Bulgaria to Encourage Chinese Investments
Investments from China in Bulgaria currently come at € 85m, reports SME Times.
October 18, 2013
IMF Warns of Financial Instability in CESEE
Due to the high non-performing loan quota and the deleveraging of Western banks, the countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are still far from financial stability.
October 18, 2013
EU Enlargement: Commission Recommends to Take Up Albania and Macedonia
In a set of annual reports adopted, the European Commission recommends granting EU candidate status to Albania and for the fifth time in a row, the opening of accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
October 17, 2013
Austria: RBI Expects Stabilization
Business in CEE seems to be in an up again. RBI is preparing for an IPO at the Warsaw stock exchange.
October 17, 2013
CESEE Region Suffers from Migration
The countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are confronted with a highly unfavorable demographic trend. The brain-drain is expected to persist.
October 17, 2013
Russian and Ukrainian Oligarchs Interested in RBI’s Affiliate
The Ukrainian affiliate of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), Bank Aval, has become the object of desire for Russian billionaire Fridman and Ukrainian banker Lagun.
October 15, 2013
„CESEE Is Not the Devil Anymore“
Regarding the development of the CESEE equity market, Birgit Kuras, CEO of Vienna Stock Exchange (VSE) demonstrates optimism.
October 14, 2013
Croatia: Hypo Group Losing Last Industrial Participation
Croatian chemical company Dioki is facing bankruptcy which is why Hypo Group is losing one of the last industrial participations in the country.
October 14, 2013
Slovenia Does Not Fully Draw EU Funds
As the Slovenian projects will not be finished in time, the financially stricken country will fail drawing all funds.
October 12, 2013
VBAG to Downsize Radically
In order to become competitive again, the partly nationalized VBAG and the Volksbanken sector will cut its structure.
October 12, 2013
Austria: Venture Capital Market is Underdeveloped
According to the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), more funds for start-up enterprises would help boosting the economy.
October 11, 2013
Technologic Leadership Is the Driving Factor for Foreign Trade
According to the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), Austria benefits substantially from the technologic innovation in the last decades and the opening the CESEE region.
October 11, 2013
Telekom Austria: No Expansion into Serbia
For Telekom Austria, the entry in Serbia fails for the second time. The Austrian telecommunication group will not submit an offer for Serbia Broadband (SBB).
October 10, 2013
Southeastern Europe: Property Market Clashes
Since mid-2012, the property market in Southeastern Europe shrinks drastically. In Croatia, house prices fell by 20%.
October 10, 2013
Trade in Austria Has Increased Since Opening of CESEE Market
Today the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (Wifo) published the “Analysis of the Austrian Balance of Trade“ on behalf of the Economic Ministry.
October 10, 2013
Austrian Post: Enormous Growth Potential in Turkey
With a local partnership, the Vienna-listed Austrian Post wants to participate in the booming Turkish post market.
October 9, 2013
Uniqa: Re-IPO Successful
The second-biggest Austrian insurance group goes public again. According to insiders, the order books are closed.
October 9, 2013
Austrian Insurance Industry Records Positive Results
In the first half of 2013, the Austrian insurance sector registered an increasing premium income. Operating income was up substantially.
October 8, 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
Croatia: Domestic Consumption Remains Weak
In the next years, Croatia´s economic performance will mainly depend on external factors.
October 5, 2013
UK: Growth Potential in CESEE
According to the IMF, the UK economy is not diversified sufficiently. Now, UK promotes exports to the CESEE region.
October 5, 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
World Bank Supports Financial Reporting in CESEE
The World Bank launched a new program to strengthen corporate financial reporting in the countries of the EU’s Eastern Partnership.
October 3, 2013
UniCredit Toying With Idea of Take-Over in Poland
Italian bank UniCredit considers to extend business at the growing Polish market by a take-over.
October 3, 2013