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Poland: Interest Rate to Remain at Record Low
In the first half of 2014, the National Bank of Poland (NBP) will not alter the reference rate, economists say.
December 10, 2013
EU/CESEE: Real Income Shrinks
In 2013, the real income will do down in Austria. Since 2010, the Austrian real income was down by 1.3%. In Hungary, real income fell by 15% in that period.
December 9, 2013
OTP Interested in MKB
Sandor Csanyi, CEO of the largest Hungrian lender OTP, considers taking over the rival MKB.
December 9, 2013
Austrian FDI Worth Less than in 2003
Due to the financial crisis after 2008, foreign investments of Austrian investors have lost in value dramatically.
December 7, 2013
Hypo Alleged of Having Hoarded Assets of Former Serbian Regime
A Serbian NGO suspects assets of former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic at Hypo Group Alpe Adria. The Austrian bank strongly rejects this allegation.
December 6, 2013
CA Immo Closes Sale of Hesse Portfolio
The closing of the sales transaction is completed.
December 6, 2013
Austrian Insurance Companies to Grant Credits
The Financial Market Authority has given green light to Austrian insurance companies for handing out loans. Insurers hope for an improvement in investment income.
December 4, 2013
Austria: Insolvency of Hypo Group Still an Option
Both the center of government and the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) reject Hypo Group’s bankruptcy. However, insolvency options are currently being assessed by the Finance Ministry and the Federal Law Office.
December 4, 2013
Sevelda: „We Are Close to the Breaking Point“
In a guest comment published by the Austrian business magazine Format, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International Karl Sevelda refers to the high burden for Austrian banks.
November 29, 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
New CEO at conwert
Today, the Austrian real estate group has presented its new chief executive officer to the public. As of February 1, Clemens Schneider will manage conwert.
November 27, 2013
EU Financial Transaction Tax to Become a Flop?
Experts do not expect the financial transaction tax to become effective next year.
November 27, 2013
Immofinanz to Enlarge Buwog’s Portfolio
Austrian real estate company Immofinanz plans on acquiring a large portfolio in Germany. The purchase price of around € 900m is supposed to be raised by the company itself.
November 26, 2013
WKO: Better Framework Conditions for SMEs
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), with between 10 to 249 persons employed, are a driver of the European economy, creating jobs and contributing to economic growth. WKO calls for better framework conditions for SMEs.
November 26, 2013
Hypo Investigations Could Last Several More Years
Yesterday the first court proceeding at the Regional Higher Court in Munich started. Investigations in Austria will take up to four years.
November 26, 2013
Germany: Austrian Real Estate Enterprises under Pressure
Austrian real estate companies have invested hundreds of millions Euros in apartments in Germany since yields are around 30 percent higher; however the German government plans on putting a hold to the upward trend.
November 25, 2013
BayernLB Lodges Claim of Almost € 5bn
The value in dispute in the legal discussions between German BayernLB and fromer affiliate Hypo Group Alpe Adria runs up to almost € 5bn.
November 25, 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
Buwog Aquires Portfolio in Berlin
Buwog has once more acquired apartments at the German real estate market.
November 20, 2013
Hungary: Banks Penalized for Lobbying
The Hungarian competition authority GVH has imposed a penalty running in the millions on domestic and foreign banks.
November 20, 2013
Austria: High Tax Country
According to the new tax report of PrinceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the tax burden in Austria is ten percent higher than the average tax rate in the European Union and even beats Sweden.
November 19, 2013
Banking Union: No Progress
The EU countries could not agree on a common bank resolution mechanism yet. Once more, the pressure on Berlin is growing.
November 16, 2013
BayernLB: “Hypo Not Willing to Pay“
Because of the legal dispute with Austrian problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria, former German parent company BayernLB announced not to increase its risk provision.
November 13, 2013
Buwog to Expand Massively in Germany
Buwog, wholly-owned subsidiary of Vienna-listed Immofinanz, prepares the acquisition of a large real estate portfolio in Germany.
November 7, 2013
Austrian Banks Forced to Prepare in Case of Bankruptcy
From 2014 on, the Austrian Banks are required to start planning the emergency scenario in case of a liquidation in order to be able and react more quickly.
November 7, 2013
CESEE Region: Booming Exports Prevent Recession
The underlying reason for the improving economic sentiment in the CESEE region is the expanding industrial sector. However, the region remains vulnerable to foreign trade and foreign investments.
November 5, 2013
Slovenia: Highest Contribution of GDP to ESM
As reported by Slovenia Times, the country has spent 2.8 percent of GDP for the Euro Stability Mechanism (ESM) last year.
November 4, 2013
Boost for Municipal Infrastructure in the Western Balkans
EBRD and KfW launch new €100 million fund
November 4, 2013
Higher Cost Pressure for Austrian Banking Industry
Due to national and international regulations, Austrian banks have to bear higher costs than their foreign competitors.
October 31, 2013
Austrian Industrial Sector Gaining Stability
The upwards trend in Austrian industry picked up pace in October. Highest survey reading for two years signals clear pick-up of industrial activity
October 30, 2013
Austrian Banking Sector: NPL at Eurozone´s Top
In the Eurozone, the non-performing loans are still growing. In total, 7.8% of the loan portfolio is risky. Austrian banks are significantly above the average.
October 30, 2013
Romania: Taxes Expected to Be Raised
The local press reports that numerous anonymous sources from the larger ruling party say that the executive is considering a hike in profit and income tax.
October 28, 2013
Germany: Proceedings against Take-Over of Hypo Group to Start
On Thursday the Higher Regional Court in Munich has decided to admit the prosecution against the take-over of Hypo Group Alpe Adria, which had earlier been rejected by the Regional Court as implausible.
October 28, 2013
Hypo Group: Worst Expectations May be Exceeded
For the Austrian state, the ailing nationalized banking group may become a financial GSA. The legal dispute with the former owner BayernLB bears enormous dangers for Austria´s public finance.
October 25, 2013
Life Insurance Industry Under Pressure
For the insurance industry, life insurance products become less and less profitable.
October 24, 2013
“We Need to Pull Down the Iron Curtain in Our Heads“
In an interview with Austrian daily “WirtschaftsBlatt“ Johannes Seiringer, Director of the Austrian office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) calls for incentives for enterprises to continue investing in CEE.
October 24, 2013
Serbia: Komercijalna Banka Supported by EFSE
Serbian Komercijalna Banka received a credit line of € 20m from the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE).
October 24, 2013
Amazon to Open Distribution Centers in the Czech Republic
The world’s largest online retailer Amazon plans to create 10,000 jobs in the Czech Republic within the next three years.
October 22, 2013
Eurozone: Economy Starting to Grow
Experts at Ernst&Young; forecast economic growth of 0.9 percent in 2014 in consequence of an improved global economic performance.
October 21, 2013
German Rail Manufacturing Plant of Voestalpine to be Closed
At the end of October voestalpine will shut down its rail manufacturing plant TSTG Schienen Technik GmbH & Co KG in Duisburg, Germany.
October 21, 2013
Conwert Changes Strategy
The Vienna-listed real estate group will strengthen its portfolio in Germany. Moreover, conwert faces a change in leadership.
October 20, 2013
CESEE Region Suffers from Migration
The countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are confronted with a highly unfavorable demographic trend. The brain-drain is expected to persist.
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
HVB: UniCredit Considers IPO
Bank Austria´s holding company UniCredit may sell a minority stake in Germany HVB.
October 14, 2013
Austrian Industrial Sector Well Positioned in International Competition
In 2012, the Austrian industrial sector was well positioned in the international competition, according to a study by the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (Wifo).
October 14, 2013
Austria Remains Main Investor in Slovenia
Last year, almost the half of the foreign direct investments in Slovenia came from Austria.
October 11, 2013
Trade in Austria Has Increased Since Opening of CESEE Market
Today the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (Wifo) published the “Analysis of the Austrian Balance of Trade“ on behalf of the Economic Ministry.
October 10, 2013
Gazprom May Face Proceedings by Austrian OMV
OMV considers arbitral proceedings against Russian Gazprom in case no joint solution will be found.
October 9, 2013
Poland: Amazon to Establish Three Logistic Centers
Leading online retailer Amazon will open three major logistic centers in Poland. According to the company’s own proclamation, this step does not relate to the latest striking problems in Germany.
October 8, 2013
CA Immo to Sell Mercedes Benz Headquarters in Berlin
After selling Tower 185 in Frankfurt, CA Immo will now sell the headquarters of Mercedes Benz in Berlin. By this measure, debts will decline significantly for the Austrian real estate company.
October 7, 2013