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Eurozone
Austria: Economic Upturn Still in Standby-Mode
According to the analysis of the economic indicator of Bank Austria, there is moderate growth and hope for the first quarter in 2014.
February 17, 2014
Slovenia: Heading for Recovery
Slovenia seems to have circumnavigated the crisis as the small country is not a Eurozone bail-out candidate anymore, according to Prime Minister Bratusek.
February 17, 2014
Government Downplaying Effects of Hypo Group Desaster
Today, both Chancellor Werner Faymann and Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger had to explain their actions in regard to Hypo Group Alpe Adria in parliament.
February 17, 2014
Cernko: Wealthy to Support R&D in Austria
The CEO of Bank Austria calls upon the Austrian government to take into consideration the funding of research and development by wealthy individuals and regard this as part of their “tax duty”.
February 12, 2014
Hypo Group: Bad Bank Active at Least 10 Years
Austria’s rating by Standard & Poor’s (“AA+”, stable outlook) is currently not compromised. Because of the establishing of the bad bank the debt rate will rise four to six percent.
February 12, 2014
ECB Wants to Supervise All Banks
For the European Central Bank, the current authority does not go far enough. The ECB wants to control all 6,600 banks in the Eurozone.
February 8, 2014
“We Want to Return to the Mainstream”
The new Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka announced that the country will become a member of the EU Fiscal Pact.
February 7, 2014
Czech Republic. Euro Adoption Causes Dispute Within the Cabinet
Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Lubomir Zaoralek (CSSD – Czech Social Democrats) wants to adopt the euro as soon as possible. Minister of Finance Andrej Babis rejects that idea.
February 7, 2014
Fitch Criticizes European Stress Tests
The rating agency argues that there is still a lack in technical details. Regarding the robustness of the stress tests, Fitch demonstrates skepticism.
February 6, 2014
Croatia: Monetary Interventions to Stabilize Kuna
On Friday the Croatian national bank sold € 240.2m to commercial banks.
January 31, 2014
Hungary: Stable Economy, Weak Currency
According to Prime Minister Orban the volatility of the Hungarian Forint is based on global factors.
January 31, 2014
Austrian Industrial Sector only Sees Weak Recovery
The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) warns about a fragile economic recovery.
January 30, 2014
WKO Rejects Further Financial Burdens for Banks
According to the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), the financial burdens of banking institutes in Austria are significantly higher than those of their competitors in other EU member states.
January 29, 2014
Euro-Introduction: Cutting Debts Precondition for Poland
Finance Minister Mateusz Szczurek stressed that cutting debts was a key condition for Poland before it could be admitted to the single currency union.
January 29, 2014
Spindelegger: “No Exploitation of Resolution Funds”
Among the finance ministers in Europe, there are still different perceptions regarding the bank resolution fund.
January 28, 2014
Restrained Optimism in Polish Financial Market
According to Finance Minister Szczurek, the Polish Financial Market will have to face another challenging year.
January 27, 2014
Austria: OeNB Forecasts Modest Economic Growth
According to the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) economic growth in Austria only came at 0.3 percent last year.
January 24, 2014
CEE: Economic Sentiment at Lowest Level
ZEW-Erste Group Bank Economic Sentiment Indicator for the CEE at lowest level.
January 24, 2014
Eurozone: Highest Economic Growth in Two Years
The purchase manager index for the private economy increased to 53.2 points up by 1.1 points, as published by Markit research institute on Thursday.
January 23, 2014
CESEE: Recovery Remains Modest
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has published a report on the regional economic prospects. The economic recovery in CESEE remains fragile.
January 23, 2014
Eurozone: Number of Banks Declining Fastly
The decline in the number of euro area monetary financial institutions (MFI) continued in 2013, according to ECB’s (European Central Bank) reports.
January 22, 2014
Erste Group: Moderate Economic Recovery in Eurozone
Euro area sentiment indicators point to a continuation of the moderate recovery, according to Erste Bank.
January 20, 2014
Kotian: “Growth in CEE is Accelerating“
In an interview with Austrian daily “Wirtschafts-Blatt”, CEE expert at Erste Group, Juraj Kotian, points out that the bond market is expected to see growth supported by the successful reduction of debts and high economic growth.
January 20, 2014
Czech Republic: Euro Introduction Has no Priority
In an interview with Bloomberg, designated prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka said that there will be no date for entering the Eurozone in the current term.
January 17, 2014
$ 1.0trn Capital Shortfall in European Banking Sector?
According to U.S. economists, the stress tests carried out by the European Central Bank are too soft.
January 16, 2014
Expansion Course of Austrian Banks Slowed Down
After the financial crisis cooled down the expansion course of Austrian banks in CESEE countries was dampened down.
January 16, 2014
Citizens from CEE Major Benefit for EU
A current paper published by the OECD shows that the European Union benefits from migration of Eastern European citizens as they compensate imbalances in the labor markets.
January 15, 2014
CESEE: Number of NPL Declining
According to a study by Bank Austria, the number of bad loans is declining in Central and Eastern Europe.
January 14, 2014
Nowotny Sees Growth Potential in Eurozone and CEE
According to Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), the outlooks for economic upturn in the Eurozone and Central/Eastern Europe have improved significantly compared to only a year ago.
January 14, 2014
Eurozone: Further Capital Injections at Banks Expected
The Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) is holding a summit today. The low inflation rate in the Eurozone is still a dilemma for the monetary authorities.
January 9, 2014
RBI Expects Growth to Accelerate in 2014
2014 marked by growth recovery, according to RBI Research.
January 9, 2014
European Savers in Danger
Already this year, savers in the Eurozone may fear a compulsory tax on deposits, the Danish Saxo Bank says.
January 4, 2014
Eurozone: Number of Bank Credits Keeps Declining
The financial institutes in the Eurozone have been cutting back on granting credits. The lending for both business corporations and private persons has dropped by 2.3 percent.
January 3, 2014
CEE: Economic Sentiment Cautiously Optimistic
The economic sentiment for Eastern European countries is becoming more optimistic, however, only cautiously. Poland is on top of the list of economists at JP Morgan.
January 2, 2014
Austria: Unemployment Rate at Record High
Last year the unemployment rate in Austria recorded its highest level in 60 years.
January 2, 2014
Serbia: Moderate Economic Growth in 2013
According to the release of the Serbian Statistical Office, GDP is estimated to have grown 2.4% in 2013.
January 2, 2014
„Such Growth Rates Will not Return“
In an interview with the Austrian daily “Presse”, economist Karl Aiginger explains that the worst should be over. The reform pressure on the Austrian government is enormous.
December 30, 2013
CESEE: Dependence on Foreign Demand Remains Main Obstacle
In 2014, Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) faces a slight upward trend. The structural difficulties persist, however.
December 21, 2013
Banking Union Completed
The Finance Ministers of the Eurozone have reached a compromise on the last pillar of the banking union. The deposit protection mechanism will come into power in 2015.
December 19, 2013
Wifo: Sluggish Growth Because of Weak Consumption
According to Wifo’s (Austrian Institute of Economic Research) prognosis for the coming years, economic upturn in Austria will remain flat because of weak consumption.
December 19, 2013
Slovenia: Three Arrestments at NLB
According to Slovenian authorities, three persons in the bank’s environment were arrested because of alleged malpractice.
December 18, 2013
Austria: Major Banks Exhibit Significant Shortages in Core Capital Quota
Both Erste Group’s and RBI’s core capital quota is below the European average.
December 17, 2013
Poland: Budget Bill Approved by Lower House
On Friday, the Polish lower house Sejm approved next year’s budget bill which schedules the budget deficit of PLN 47.6bn not to be exceeded.
December 16, 2013
No Major Progresses in Banking Union
Tuesday night the Finance Ministers of the European Union have gradually approached on the outstanding issues in the handling with banks threatened by bankruptcy.
December 11, 2013
OeNB Calls on Austrian Banks to Strengthen Their Capital Base Further
Presentation of the Financial Stability Report 26 of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB).
December 11, 2013
Slovenia Still Wants to Solve Problems on Its Own
According to head of Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the highly indebted country intends to get a grip on the problems of its banking sector.
December 10, 2013
EU Demands € 55bn for Banking Union
The Finance Ministers of the European Union are still negotiating about a mechanism aimed at preventing states from having to take over financial difficulties from banks, the banking union.
December 9, 2013
Austria: Tax Increases Contemplated by Government
During the coalition negotiations increases of taxes on tobacco and alcohol is currently considered by the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP).
December 9, 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
Austria: Slight Increase in Exports
In spite of a continuing difficult international environment domestic exports increased by 0.7 percent. According to Economy Minister Mitterlehner the Austrian exports are on a record high.
December 6, 2013