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Czech Republic
Czech National Bank Expects More Interest Rate Cuts
The governor of the Czech National Bank Miroslav Singer explained that the monetary easing program will continue.
September 27, 2012
MOL Announces Massive Investments in Hungary
The Hungarian oil group plans to make investments of € 1.1bn in the next three years.
September 25, 2012
Public Debt: New EU Members Are More Flexible
Compared to old EU member states, the new member states have more fiscal leeway to overcome the crisis.
September 24, 2012
Klaus: Czechs Against Banking Union
The Czech President notes that the Czech Republic cannot achieve anything without a recovery of the European economy. However, it would be advantageous to stay outside the Eurozone.
September 18, 2012
Strong Increase in Hourly Labor Costs in Hungary and Romania
Second quarter 2012 compared with second quarter 2011: Euro area hourly labour costs rose by 1.6% and by 1.8% in EU27.
September 17, 2012
Czech Republic: EU-Subsidies to be Cut Massively
Due to EU-aid manipulation, the Czech Republic will lose at least € 1.0bn.
September 15, 2012
Hungary Becomes Tax Haven for Czech and Slovak Enterprises
In the last three years, the number of Czech enterprises with head office in Hungary was up by 41%.
September 15, 2012
Czech Republic: Exports to Russia Reach new High
In 2012, the exports to Russia are estimated to surpass € 4.6bn. This would be a new record.
September 15, 2012
Czech Unemployment Rate Remains Flat
In August, the Czech Republic´s unemployment quota came at 8.3%.
September 15, 2012
Klaus Does Not Want European Federation
The Czech President Vaclav Klaus rejects the idea of the head of the EU-Commission José Manuel Barroso.
September 14, 2012
Czech Public Debt Growing Rapidly
Until the end of the year, public debt is expected to increase to € 63.77bn. At the end of 2011, the public debt level came at € 58.5bn.
September 14, 2012
Czech Republic Threatened of Downgrade
Because of its instable political situation, the Czech Republic may be downgraded. Debt service costs may increase substantially.
September 14, 2012
VAT Dispute: Necas Seeks Compromise
The Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas is optimistic that the instable government will survive. He wants to reach a compromise with the dissenters.
September 13, 2012
OECD: Czech Spending on Education too Low
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development criticizes the Czech government. Expenditure on education only reach 4.8% of GDP, which is below the OECD average of 6.2%.
September 12, 2012
Austerity Package: Czech Government Asks for Vote of Confidence
After the austerity package was disapproved by the Czech Parliament, the government resubmits the bill to the Chamber of Deputies.
September 10, 2012
Czech Republic: No VAT Increase
The governing coalition failed in seeking approval by the parliament. In order to lower the budget deficit, the government intended to lift the VAT rates.
September 7, 2012
Czech VAT Increase to be Resolved
The Czech government wants to increase the tax intake by € 1.0bn. Economists warn of a deepening of the recession.
September 4, 2012
Further Increase in Unemployment
At the end of August 2012, 289,000 persons were looking for a job in Austria. At the same time, employment still grows.
September 3, 2012
Kapsch Acquired Czech Data Storage
The Austrian IT company strengthens its presence in CEE with acquisition of Data Storage in the Czech Republic.
September 3, 2012
Goldman Sachs Lowers Expectations for Austrian Banks
The U.S. investment bank anticipates decreasing earnings.
August 27, 2012
S&P Confirms Czech Rating
The U.S. rating agency retained the rating for the Rczech Republic.
August 24, 2012
Investment in Czech Republic Still Below Pre-Crisis Level
The global financial crisis, which originated in the USA in 2007 also hit the Czech Republic quite hard despite the fact that neither its internal nor external imbalances were excessive, the Czech Central bank stated.
August 24, 2012
Czech VAT to Increase
In order to increase public revenues, the Czech government may increase value added taxes.
August 21, 2012
Profits Grow Slower in Polish Banking Sector
The Polish banking sector is still very stable. However, a trend reversal is foreseeable.
August 10, 2012
OMV to Focus on Gas Business
The Austrian oil and gas company intends to exploit natural gas in proximity to Europe. The Black Sea and the North Sea are the strategically most important areas.
August 8, 2012
Polish Business Service Sector Booming
In 2011, 38 new business service centers were established in Poland. The number of employees doubled since 2009.
August 4, 2012
Bank Austria as UniCredit´s Cash Cow
Without Bank Austria, UniCredit would have been in the loss area. The CESEE region is still Bank Austria´s future market.
August 4, 2012
Czech Republic: Erste Group´s CEO Advises Against Introducing the Euro
According to Andreas Treichl, the Czech Republic should not enter the Eurozone now.
August 2, 2012
Erste Group: Concerns Despite Profits
Yesterday, the Austrian banking group published its results for the first half year. The business in Romania, Hungary and Ukraine causes worries.
August 1, 2012
CESEE: Still High Degree of Corruption
According to Transparency International, „political influence over independent institutions is a systemic corruption risk in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia“.
July 31, 2012
OMV: No Withdrawal from Germany
The Austrian oil company and petrol station operator will not sell the petrol station business in Germany. By contrast, the downsizing program in the SEE region and in the Czech Republic will be continued.
July 19, 2012
„No Austerity Measures in the Czech Republic“
The Vienna Institute for International Studies underlines that the Czech Republic´s financial situation is very stable at the moment. Austerity policies would not be required.
July 11, 2012
IMF: New Central and Eastern European Constituency
Austria, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Turkey have established a Central and Eastern European Constituency at the International Monetary Fund.
July 11, 2012
Purchasing Power in CEE Region: Czech Republic Ranks First
Among Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Bratislava records the biggest regional purchasing power. In total, the Czech Republic ranks first.
July 7, 2012
Austria Remains One of the Biggest CESEE Investors
Austria is still an important net investor in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. However, the global importance of the region did not increase.
July 6, 2012
CEE Defies Turbulences in the Eurozone
GDP in CEE expected to grow 2.6 per cent in 2012 – eurozone expected to shrink by 0.3 per cent. Growth forecast for Austria’s GDP at 0.7 per cent in 2012
July 5, 2012
Czech Republic: OMV Withdraws, MOL Expands
The Hungarian oil and gas group purchased 124 petrol stations in the Czech Republic. The Austrian OMV continues its downsizing strategy.
July 4, 2012
Boom in New Listings at Prague Stock Exchange
The CEESEG member Prague Stock Exchange is pleased about new listings despite the current economic crisis.
July 2, 2012
Energochemica Enters the Prague Stock Exchnage
Energochemcia SE officially announced its intention to enter the Prague Stock Exchange (PSE). The company wants to focus on acquisitions of key energy and chemical industry companies.
June 29, 2012
Credit Crunch in CESEE?
Anglo-Saxon banks and funds are most aggressive in deleveraging; Austrian bank are not relying on funding from countries in hotspots of deleveraging.
June 27, 2012
Schwarzenberg: „Czech Republic Should be Europe´s Hard Core“
The Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs thinks that the Czech Republic should be among the EU´s core nations. This would be the only useful alternative for the country, Schwarzenberg says.
June 26, 2012
Treichl: „Europe Does Not Need the Euro“
Andreas Treichl, CEO of Austrian Erste Group thinks that the European Union would work very well without the common currency. A common army would be more important.
June 25, 2012
CESEE Banks: Small Exposure in Southern Europe
The riskiness of assets held by CESEE banks is manageable, the U.S. rating agency Fitch says. The CESEE region has closer links to Western Europe than to Southern Europe.
June 20, 2012
CEE Banking Sector „Performs Well“
The Austrian Raiffeisen Centrobank sees high-growth potential in the CESEE region. Loan growth is at „healthy levels“, there are „no signs of a credit crunch“.
June 6, 2012
Massive Gap in Purchasing Power
Purchasing Power Parities 2012: Higher travel costs for overseas destinations; Austrians' purchasing power 40–70% above the level in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary.
May 21, 2012
Improved Business Atmosphere in CESEE Region
According to a survey by OeKB (Oesterreichische Kontrollbank), expectations of investors are beyond the level of January. Austrian exports to the CESEE region may increase.
May 4, 2012
OMV´s Petrol Stations: Potential Buyers in Sight
The Austrian oil and gas company OMV plans to sell its petrol stations in Croatia and Bosnia. Local investors show interest.
April 17, 2012
Goldman Sachs: Too Small Margins at Austrian Banks in CEE
The U.S. investment bank is optimistic that the CEE region recovers in 2013. The write-offs made by Austrian banks were “correct”.
April 16, 2012
Kapsch: Critique by Czech Republic
The toll collection system in the Czech Republic is more expensive in Austria or Germany, the Czech audit authority alleges.
April 14, 2012
Lutz Continues Expansion Program
The world´s second largest furniture house intends to grow in Eastern and Southeastern Europe.
April 7, 2012