Eurozone

Rise in Public Debt Unstopped

In the Euro area, government debt was up to 88.2% of GDP. Due to the European debt crisis, Austria´s public debt level will increase from 72.2% to 74.7% of the country´s GDP.

July 23, 2012

Bail-Outs: Is Slovenia Next?

The Slovenian banking industry becomes an increasing problem for Austria´s Southern neighbour. Non-performing loans may total up to € 6.0bn.

July 17, 2012

Europe Hinders Austrian Economy

Due to the European economic weakness, Austria almost stagnates. Slight corrections in austerity programmes, weaker euro and lower oil prices indicate an economic stabilisation in late 2012 though.

July 17, 2012

Bulgaria Aims to Join Eurozone

Bulgaria´s Finance Minister Simeon Djankov underlines the importance of the banking supervision and the Fiscal Pact, but wants to keep the fiscal competence.

July 16, 2012

Poland Not to Enter the Eurozone Soon

For the time being, Poland will keep the Zloty. After the Eurozone has managed the current crisis, an accession is conceivable, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski says.

July 14, 2012

Austrian Opposition Parties Fight Against Fiscal Pact

The three Austrian opposition parties FPÖ, The Greens and BZÖ announced to bring a complaint of unconstitutionality against the Fiscal Pact.

July 13, 2012

Grexit would Cost Austria € 11.0bn

The Brussels-based think tank CEPS states that Austria would have to bear costs of € 10.9bn in case of a Greek exit out of the Eurozone.

July 13, 2012

Austrian AAA „Not in Danger“

The Austrian economist and chairman of the public debt council Bernhard Felderer thinks that Austria will keep its Triple-A rating. Felderer´s statement is not undisputed.

July 12, 2012

ESM Approved by Austrian Parliament

The controversial European Stability Mechanism was ratified by the Austrian National Council. The right opposition parties criticized the approval massively.

July 6, 2012

Growth in CESEE Region Flattens Further

The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (WIIW) lowers ist forecast for the CESEE region.

July 6, 2012

IMF: Austria Has Favorable Economic Fundamentals

IMF in Washington DC analyzes Austrian macroeconomic outlook and is satisfied with the consolidation path.

July 4, 2012

„ECB as Only Supervisor Not Likely“

OeNB`s (Austrian Central Bank) Governor Ewald Nowotny does not think that ECB will act as only banking supervision authority.

July 2, 2012

Euro-Crisis Continues

According to RCB, the factional dispute between Germany and France decisive for the eurozone. An easing of the situation is not expected.

June 29, 2012

Leitl: „Securing Austria´s Top Ranking“

WKO´s President Christoph Leitl calls for reforms. In order retain Austria´s economic position, reforms should be accelerated and taxes should be cut.

June 27, 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

EU Discusses Growth and Employment Pact

Austria´s State Secretary Waldner at the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg: „Putting and end to the negative spiral“.

June 27, 2012

Survival of the Euro Questionable

Regarding the future of the common currency, the Austrian economist Fritz Breuss is highly skeptical.

June 26, 2012

„The end of the Euro would mean Europe´s Explosion“

Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) reaffirms that Europe needs the Euro.

June 25, 2012

Green Party: ESM Approval Depends on Financial Transaction Tax

The Austrian Green party will only vote for the ESM if there is a basic consent for the financial transaction tax.

June 22, 2012

„Austria Is Threatened by a National Bankruptcy“

The Austrian economist Eva Pichler warns of the ESM and appeals on the Austrian Parliament not to ratify the „recue package“.

June 20, 2012

Fitch: Austria´s AAA Not Endangered

According to the U.S. rating agency, Austria´s creditworthiness remains at a high level. Nevertheless, reforms would be needed.

June 19, 2012

Fekter Defends Euro Aids

Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter underlines the „necessity of solidarity“ and stressed ist commitment to the common currency. The Austria opposition party FPÖ made a serious protest.

June 16, 2012

Gloomy Growth Prospects for Austria

Bank Austria cuts its growth prospects for Austria. Instead of a GDP growth of 2.0% in 2013, the analysts now expect economic growth to reach 1.5%.

June 16, 2012

FPÖ: „Europe Has a Banking Problem“

The Austrian opposition leader Heinz-Christian Strache criticizes that European countries are downgraded due to their banks. Further bank aids would be likely.

June 13, 2012

Fitch: „AAA Endangered in Case of Greek Exit“

The U.S. rating agency warns the remaining AAA-Eurozone members of the consequences of a Greek exit.

June 13, 2012

Austerity: „There is No Alternative“

The former director of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies appreciates the help for Spanish banks and thinks that a Greek exit is rather unlikely.

June 12, 2012

Spain: „ESM would be a Better Safeguard“

Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter wants Spain to call for aid via the ESM.

June 11, 2012

Moody´s Warns Austria of Another Downgrade

The U.S. rating agency may downgrade European AAA-countries like Austria, Germany or France soon.

June 9, 2012

Nowotny Pushes Spain to Call for Help

The governor of Austria´s Central Bank Ewald Nowotny appeals on the Spanish government to call for help and fears that the situation could become even worse for Spain otherwise.

June 9, 2012

EU-Crisis: Austrian Government Underlines Necessity of „Solidarity“

The Austrian State Secretary Wolfgang Waldner calls for a centralization of economic and financial policies.

June 8, 2012

Optimistic Economic Forecasts for Austria

According tot he Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), Austria´s economic growth will be substantially above the European average.

June 8, 2012

„Bank Union is Still Far Away“

Ewald Nowotny, Governor of Austria´s Central Bank, thinks that a bank union in the Eurozone would still take some time. Erste Group´s CEO Andreas Treichl approves the idea.

June 6, 2012

Sharp Decrease in Austrian Retail Trade

In the Eurozone, the Volume of retail trade was down by 1.0% in euro area. The highest monthly decrease was observed in Austria.

June 6, 2012

Keuschnigg: „Raising ESM for Italy and Spain“

Christian Keuschnigg, director of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS) argues for raising ESM funds to € 1,000bn.

June 4, 2012

Treichl: „Spain Needs Help“

The CEO of theAustrian Erste Group Andreas Treichl is in doubt whether Spain may conquer the crisis without help. Regarding Greece, Europe has to pay anyway, Treichl thinks.

June 1, 2012

The Euro - A Big Error (Part 4)

The common currency did not create convergence, but widened the gap between Northern and Southern Eurozone member states.

May 31, 2012

The Euro - A Big Error (Part 3)

The common currency did not create convergence, but widened the gap between Northern and Southern Eurozone member states.

May 29, 2012

"Europe Needs Economic Growth and Budget Discipline“

Structural reforms are necessary to make Europe sustainably more competitive, Christoph Leitl, President of Austria´s Chamber of Commerce (WKO) says.

May 26, 2012

Austrian Chamber of Economics Claims Growth Package

Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce thinks that Austria and Europe would both need growth and austerity measures.

May 25, 2012

Greece and Eurobonds Divide Austria

The Greek exit and the introduction of Eurobonds are discussed heatedly. In Austria, there is no clear tendency.

May 25, 2012

Nowotny: „Austria is Safe“

The governor of Austria´s Central Bank (OeNB) Ewald Nowotny asserts that the economic stability in Austria is substantially better than in other regions of the Eurozone.

May 23, 2012

Fekter Warns of Greek Exit

Austrias Finance Minister Maria Fekter sees enormous difficulties in the case of an exit out of the Eurozone. The Financial Market Authority (FMA) supports Fekter.

May 23, 2012

The Euro – A Big Error (Part 2)

The system of the common currency has failed to work, but is still kept alive artificially. The euro brings enormous difficulties to stronger as well as weaker European economies.

May 23, 2012

Rothensteiner: Return to Drachma would be „Utter Chaos“

The CEO of the Austrian RZB (Raiffeisen Zentralbank) warns of a Greek exit. At the moment, there would be not contagiousness for Spain or Italy.

May 21, 2012

The Euro – A Big Error (Part 1)

The system of the common currency has failed to work, but is still kept alive artificially. The euro brings enormous difficulties to stronger as well as weaker European economies.

May 20, 2012

Austrian Interest Rate Reaches a Record Low

The interest rates for German and Austrian sovereign bonds are as deep as never before. Thus, in Europe, the gap widens further.

May 18, 2012

„ECB Must Help Spain“

If real estate price in Spain fall further, Spanish banks were not able to bear that risk. A Greek exit could cost Austria up to € 10bn.

May 18, 2012

Greek Exit: Costs of € 7.7bn for Austria

Austria could have to bear costs of up to € 7.7bn if Greece leaves the Eurozone. Austrian guarantees amount to € 3.1bn.

May 14, 2012

Stable Development of Austrian Economy

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) forecasts a decent, but stable economic growth in 2012.

May 10, 2012

Greece: „The Markets were too Euphoric“

In an interview with the Austrian newspaper “Standard”, the Austrian analyst Friedrich Mostböck thinks that the European debt crisis will remain a major challenge.

May 7, 2012
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