CESEE

Hypo Group Expects Enormous Challenges

„Next year will be very difficult.“ CEO Gottwald Kranebitter says in an interview with “WirtschaftsBlatt”.

December 10, 2012

Southeast Europe Agrees on Growth Strategy

In order to meet the 2020 growth strategy of the EU, the Balkan countries plan to co-operate more closely. Turkey and Bulgaria emphasize their good relations.

December 8, 2012

Rothensteiner: „No Credit Crunch“

Walter Rothensteiner, CEO of Austrian Raiffeisen Zentralbank, thinks that the capital shortfall of European banks does not limit credit supply.

December 3, 2012

The Banker: RBI Bank of the Year in CEE

Already fourth award for RBI as “Best Bank” in CEE this year. Network banks in Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania receive local “Bank of the Year“ awards.

November 29, 2012

IMF: Higher Risks for Austrian Banks in CESEE

In an interview with the Austrian news magazine “Presse”, IMF´s Executive Director Johann Prader explained that the European debt crisis has arrived in Central, East and Southeast Europe.

November 28, 2012

„Too Many Banks in Austria“

Hannes Androsch, President of the Austrian bank holding Fimbag, warns that Austria´s exposure in CESEE countries is disproportionately high.

November 28, 2012

OECD: CESEE Countries A Risk Factor for Austria

Next year, Austria´s economy will only show a growth rate of 0.8%. Unemployment is estimated to increase further. CESEE countries would lower the grow prospects for Austria, OECD says.

November 27, 2012

CESEE: Social Protection Still Underdeveloped

EU27 spent 29.4% of GDP on social protection in 2010. The lowest ratios were observed in Romania, Latvia, Estonia and Bulgaria.

November 27, 2012

CESEE: Russia Has Best Growth Prospects

Next year, Russia is expected to record a GDP growth rate of 3.8%, Vienna Institute of International Economic Studies (wiiw) says.

November 26, 2012

Nowotny: „CESEE Needs New Growth Model“

Ewald Nowotny, governor of Austria´s National Bank (OeNB), thinks that the current growth model for the region is outdated.

November 26, 2012

CESEE: Eurozone crisis and Austerity Push Half of the Region into Recession

Export weakness and suppressed domestic demand will push nearly half of the CESEE region into recession this year, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, and nearly all Western Balkan countries.

November 26, 2012

CESEE: Foreign Trade With Austria Booms

This year, Austrian exports to countries in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are growing substantially.

November 24, 2012

EBRD: CESEE Countries Must Improve Legal Security

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development underlines that banks need more stable legal systems in Eastern Europe.

November 24, 2012

Treichl: Austria Should Cooperate with CEE Countries

Erste Group´s CEO Andreas Treichl thinks that CEE countries and Austria should create a model region in Europe like the Scandinavian countries did.

November 16, 2012

CESEE: Massive Capital Outflow

In the second half of 2011 and in the first half of 2012, foreign banks withdrew about € 55bn from the region.

November 14, 2012

Bank Austria: Subsidiaries in Czech Republic and Slovakia to Merge

Bank Austria´s holding company UniCredit starts a Business Refocusing Program in CEE.

November 13, 2012

CESEE: Lending Shrinks

Foreign banks reduce lending in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. Hungary and Southeastern Europe are most affected.

November 12, 2012

Fitch Confirms AAA for Austria

The outlook is „stable“. The rating agency is worried about the banking sector, however.

November 9, 2012 · Updated: November 9, 2012; 17:13

Erste Group Best Private Bank in Central & Eastern Europe 2012

Due to centralized strategy combined with extensive regional know-how, Erste Group Private Banking substantially expanded its client base, managing assets worth around EUR 15bn across CEE.

November 9, 2012

CEE Deleveraging Remains Moderate

Austrian, German and Italian banks kept lending to CEE6 (except Hungary) relatively stable. Shifts in foreign capital structure and allocation from private to public sector might pose risks to future growth.

November 8, 2012

VBI Is Now Called Sberbank Europe AG

VBI (Volksbank International), the former Eastern European division of Austrian VBAG was renamed to Sberbank Europe.

November 7, 2012

CESEE: Business Climate Deteriorates

According to OeKB (Austrian Clearing Bank), the economic sentiment in Southeastern Europe is declining. Poland remains the growth engine.

November 7, 2012

Purchasing Power: Austria Ranks 6

Regarding the purchasing power per head, Austria is significantly above the European average of € 12,802.

October 31, 2012

„Strengthening Relation with Russia“

Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) argues that Europe must co-operate closer with Russia in order to manage the crisis.

October 25, 2012

VIG Considers Expanding Further

Vienna Insurance Group has cash reserves of € 1.5bn. Now, the insurance group wants to take over some small or medium-sized companies.

October 24, 2012

World Bank: „Poland is a Growth Engine for Eastern Europe“

According to the “Doing Business Report 2013”, Poland´s competitive position has improved remarkably. Austria was up by two ranks.

October 23, 2012

Porr´s Construction Output Shrinks

The third-largest Austrian construction group records an increase in orders. Porr´s CEO Karl-Heinz Strauss is satisfied.

October 18, 2012

Vienna Stock Exchange Wants Further Privatizations

CEE Summit of the Vienna Stock Exchange: “Privatizations as a Driver of the Economy and the Capital Market”.

October 11, 2012

Czech Economy to Shrink by 1.0% This Year

According to IMF, the Czech GDP will shrink by 1.0% this year. Next year an economic growth rate of 0.8% is expected.

October 10, 2012

Austria May Escape the Crisis

According to the latest forecast by IMF, expected economic growth in Austria comes at 0.9% this year. In the CEE countries, an average economic growth of 2.0% is forecasted.

October 9, 2012

CEE Countries Must Work Upon Economic Convergence

CEE countries are struggling with weaker external demand and uncertain consumers, whereas in most cases fiscal policy is under control. Labour productivity, costs and competitiveness of CEE region give reason for optimism.

October 5, 2012

Eastern Europe Remains Austria´s Future Region

The Austrian economist Christian Keuschnigg thinks that the opening of Austrian companies toward Eastern Europe was a “highly favourable event”.

October 4, 2012

Austria: Fixed Costs Come at 55% of Household Income

In Eastern Europe, the share of fixed costs is even higher. Romanian households spend 76% of their income on fixed costs.

October 4, 2012

CEE Remains Europe’s Growth engine Despite Slow-Down

CEE with 2012 GDP growth of 2.4 per cent – GDP in Eurozone to shrink to minus 0.5 per cent in 2012 . In terms of reforms, CEE tops Eurozone peripherals

September 28, 2012

„Becoming Number Five Until 2015“

In an interview with the Austrian newspaper „Presse“, Uniqa´s CEO Andreas Brandstetter is optimistic to become a big player in the insurance industry in the CESEE region.

September 15, 2012

Stock Exchange Ranking: Kapsch Has First Place

No other company has managed the crisis better than the Austrian toll system company, Contrast Management Consulting says.

September 14, 2012

Banking Union: Austrian FMA Wants to Integrate Eastern European Countries

According to the board of Austria´s Financial Market Authority, not only the banks of the Eurozone should be supervised.

September 13, 2012

S&P: Foreign Currency Loans Endanger Austrian Banks

According to the U.S. rating agency, the high volume of foreign currency loans is a big danger for Austria´s banks. Nevertheless, the Austrian banking sector achieved the second best rating.

September 6, 2012

Bad Times for Vienna Stock Exchange

Compared to August 2011, stock turnover fell by 66% last month. Turnover only reached € 2.3bn.

September 4, 2012

IMF: Austria Must Prevent Spillover Effects

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded the Article IV consultation with Austria. The Austrian banking sector is “overly ambitious” in the CESEE region, IMF says.

September 3, 2012

Poland as European Logistics Hub

Real estate analysts predict that Poland will become Europe´s logistics hub in 2020.

September 1, 2012

Re-IPO to Increase Uniqa´s Free Float

In 2013 or 2014, the Austrian insurance company plans a Re-IPO. At the moment, the preparations are already under way.

August 29, 2012

Telekom Austria Considers Partnership With Dutch KPN

At the beginning of December, Telekom Austria´s CEO Hannes Ametsreiter will present a common strategy with Dutch KPN. In meantime, synergies should be found.

August 29, 2012

Strabag: CEO Haselsteiner Is Said to Consider Delisting

The Austrian construction group Strabag may withdraw from Vienna Stock Exchange. “We do not need the stock exchange now.” He says in an interview with “Wirtschaftsblatt”.

August 27, 2012

Crisis in Eurozone: Stepic Is Optimistic

In an interview with the Austrian newspaper “Presse”, RBI´s CEO Herbert Stepic expects that the crisis will be managed until 2015.

August 25, 2012

VIG Aims to Expand in Poland

Vienna Insurance Group is interested in the Polish subsidiaries of ING and Aviva. However, there are no sales plans yet.

August 23, 2012

Lithuania Suffers From Crisis in Eurozone

The Baltic country has to lower GDP growth forecasts. As foreign trade grows not as fast as expected, the Bank of Lithuania becomes more cautious. This year, Lithuania´s GDP is expected to grow by 3.0%.

August 22, 2012

VIG to Grow in Hungary

Vienna Insurance Group intends to expand into Hungary. The Eastern neighbor country is the favorite growth market, the Austrian insurance group said.

August 22, 2012

Grexit: Aiginger Warns of Shock in the Balkan Region

Wifo´s (Austrian Institute of Economic Research) director Karl Aiginger thinks that a Greek exit would not only cause big problems for Greece itself, but for the whole Balkan region.

August 21, 2012

Global Increase in Direct Investments made by Austrian Companies

In addition to CEE/SEE countries, growth in Austrian direct investments was also seen in Germany, Russia and Turkey.

August 21, 2012
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