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Austrian Banking Industry Depends on Russia and Czech Republic
For the Austrian banking sector, the CESEE region is highly heterogeneous. In the first six months of 2013, net earnings totaled € 1.4bn in the region.
December 12, 2013
Wifo: Austrian Economic Growth Still Sluggish
Seasonally adjusted and corrected for working day effects, GDP increased by 0.2 percent compared to the second quarter. The upturn becomes evident only in a very moderate pace.
December 9, 2013
Moody's: ECB Rate Cut Does Little for Economic Growth
ECB rate cut to a record low 0.25% will likely do little to support economic growth, according to Moody's Analytics.
December 5, 2013
ECB: Debates about Further Measures in Monetary Policy
Today the 23 member of the European Central Bank’s Council have initiated debates about the the stance of monetary policy. The base rate, lowered to 0.25 percent last month, is expected to remain unchanged.
December 5, 2013
Austria: Bawag to Pay back Participation Capital
The Austrian Bawag announced its plans about paying back a further tranche of the state capital participation.
December 2, 2013
PwC: Turbulent Years for Banks
According to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) the core capital of European banks need to be increased significantly.
November 28, 2013
Germany Claims Key Positions at EU Banking Regulator
The German federal government claims one key position in the European banking regulator.
November 28, 2013
ECB Considers Restricting Credits
The ECB takes the option of restricting banking to industrial enterprises only into consideration.
November 27, 2013
CESEE: Austrian Banks Face New Challenges
For Austrian banks, the assessment by the ECB may bring new difficulties. Non-performing loans in CESEE are said to be higher than officially known.
November 26, 2013
ECB Does Not See Danger of Deflation
Benoit Coeure, member of ECB’s supervisory board, does not see the danger of deflation in Europe.
November 25, 2013
Slovenia: Stress Tests Result Published on December 13
Bostjan Jazbec, governor of the Slovenian National Bank (SNB), is optimistic that no Slovenian bank will have to be liquidated.
November 23, 2013
Eurozone: Nouy New Manager of ECB’s Banking Suvervision
Daniele Nouy will become the new head of the ECB’s banking supervision.
November 21, 2013
Capital Shortfall at European Banks
According to Boston Consulting Group, European Banks still have much work to do.
November 19, 2013
OECD: Restructuring of Banks Required
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) calls for a fast progress in the establishing of a banking union in the Eurozone and restructuring of the banking sector to boost economic growth.
November 19, 2013
Nowotny: Must Avoid Bubble in CESEE
In order to avoid another asset bubble like in 2008, loan growth has to be monitored, governor of Austrian National Bank Ewald Nowotny says.
November 19, 2013
„Not Enough Bank Insolvencies“
Andrea Enria, head of the European Banking Authority (EBA), claims that the banking landscape did not change sufficiently.
November 18, 2013
Nowotny: Economic Recovery not as Strong as Expected
According to Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), indicators point toward a slow recovery in the next quarters.
November 18, 2013
ECB Still Has Further Tools
In spite of the most recent cut of the key rate by the European Central Bank (ECB) there is still some leeway downward. However, measures will affect the exchange rate of the common currency.
November 13, 2013
Austria: Downsizing Options for Hypo Group under Discussion
In the discussion about establishing a downsizing unit for ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria, several possibilities are taken into account.
November 12, 2013
Austria: Nowotny Rejects Mood of Opposition against ECB
Ewald Nowotny, governor of OeNB, rejects the idea of having been part of a protest group against the European Central Bank’s (ECB) most recent monetary measures by cutting the key rate to an all-time low.
November 12, 2013
Nowotny Against ECB’s Key Rate Cut
The governor of the Austrian National Bank has, according to reports, voted against the ECB’s most recent interventions.
November 11, 2013
Interest Rate Cut: “Very Effective Property Tax“
Economists have judged the ECB’s cut in interest rate differently. According to Brezinschek, chief analyst at Raiffeisen International, savers that are not involved in speculative investments will not benefit from the latest key rate cut.
November 8, 2013
Eurozone: Key Rate At Record Low
Low inflation was reason for ECB to lower key rate again by 0.25 percent.
November 7, 2013
ECB to Keep Interest Rate Low
Despite a low inflation, the European Central Bank (ECB) will keep the interest rate low. The Council of ECB has held a meeting on Thursday morning
November 7, 2013
Industrial Sector: Growth Painfully Slow
According to a survey by research institute Markit, industrial production in the Eurozone increased in October for the fourth time in a row. However, the rate of growth is still low.
November 4, 2013
Slovenia: Bailout Comes Closer
The ailing country is not expected to manage the financial crisis on its own. Calling for support from Brussels seems to be the last remaining alternative.
October 28, 2013
Bank Asset Review: Slovenia´s Government Satisfied
According to Slovenia´s Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek, Slovenia´s government has received full support for the bank asset review. ECB´s point of view is more critical, however.
October 26, 2013
EU Summit Calls for Finalization of Joint Guidelines for ESM
The EU Summit presses for faster changes to achieve the aim of a banking union.
October 25, 2013
ECB: “Uniform Assessment for Banks Important Step for Europe”
Assessment of ECB is an important step in the preparation of the single supervisory mechanism.
October 24, 2013
Stress Tests: Austrian Banks Demonstrate Optimism
Austrian banks are expected to pass the stress tests. However, the next years are expected to become challenging for the Austrian banking sector.
October 23, 2013
Slovenia: Govenor of National Bank demands “Change of Mentality”
At a lecture planned by the Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES), Bostjan Jazbec, govenor of Banka Slovenije, pointed out that the country could only blame itself for the current state it was in.
October 23, 2013
Austrian Banks Expected to Pass Auditing
According to the financial supervisors, the Austrian banks are likely to pass the ECB’s (European Central Bank) auditing since there are no significant adjustment requirements.
October 23, 2013
EBRD Analyzes Slovenia´s Difficulties
From October 21 to 25, a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will visit the ailing country.
October 21, 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
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
Eurozone: Banking Union Approved
From autumn 2014 on, the European Central Bank (ECB) will directly supervise 130 major banks within the Eurozone.
October 16, 2013
Calculated Optimism in Slovenia
Slovenia´s Ministry of Economics expects a return to growth in the course of next year. According ot economists, this forecast is leading to doubt.
October 15, 2013
FX Loans: ECB Warns Hungary
ECB´s governor Mario Draghi warns Hungary. The conversion of foreign currency loans may sharpen the credit crunch.
October 14, 2013
IMF: „Banks and Companies in a Vicious Circle“
Not only Greece, Spain or Portugal are struggling with a financially stricken banking sector. In Southeastern Europe, the situation is quite similar.
October 11, 2013
Bratusek: “We Are Paying for Your Debts”
On Tuesday Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek presented the budget draft for 2014 and 2015 to the members of parliament.
October 9, 2013
Keuschnigg Advises Austria to be Patient
According to Keuschnigg it was not possible to increase the core capital quota of the banks to the level necessary or to reduce public debts by 120 percent in two years only.
October 4, 2013
Economic Recovery and Interest Rate Turnaround Also in Austria?
Not only Germany but also the peripheral areas of the European Union see economic recovery supported by an increasing export activity.
October 3, 2013
Eurozone: Inflation Drops to 1.1 Percent
According to first estimates by Eurostat, the Eurozone shows the lowest inflation rate in more than a year. Only twelve months ago the inflation rate was at 2.7 percent.
September 30, 2013
"European bank supervision sends a strong signal to financial markets"
Austrian Federal Minister of Finance Maria Fekter welcomes favourable European Parliament decision on bank supervision.
September 28, 2013
Slovenia: Controversies Over New Budget
Slovenia´s Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek links the approval to the austerity budget to a vote of confidence.
September 25, 2013
Slovenia in a Decisive Phase
According to Bostjan Jazbec, Govenor of the Bank of Slovenia, the coming weeks will be critical for the small Eurozone member country.
September 23, 2013
Slovenia: First Budget Surplus in 2013
For the first time this year, Slovenia shows a budget surplus of € 15m. However, the deficit of the first eight months is as high as € 1.3bn, according to data by the Finance Ministry.
September 20, 2013
Slovenia: Privatization Program to Boost FDI?
The government of the financially ailing country is forced to privatize a substantial part of the publicly held companies. Prime Minister Bratusek hopes foreign direct investments to increase.
September 20, 2013
Slovenia: Bankruptcy Without ECB/ESM?
Without external aid, Slovenia will not manage its severe financial crisis, experts say. A bail-out becomes more likely.
September 15, 2013
ECB Worried About Slovenia
The European Central Bank is uncertain whether the financially stricken country will be able to manage its banking crisis.
September 12, 2013
