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Hungary
CESEE: More Robust than in 2008
The U.S. Federal Reserve wants to reduce its easing policy gradually. For emerging markets, the end of the loose monetary policy may prove challenging.
December 17, 2013
Hungary: Good News for Banks in Forex Proceedings
Banks operating in Hungary can feel relieved by the Supreme Court’s judgement.
December 16, 2013
BayernLB to Keep Hungarian MKB Unit
BayernLB’s plans to seperate from loss-making Hungarian affiliate MKB were not put on hold. Instead, the German bank wants to continue to push forward with austerity measures and cut jobs.
December 14, 2013
Croatia: Erste Offer Rejected
Austrian Erste Group intended to aquire Croatian HPB. However, the offer was rejected by the Finance Ministry as the purchase price was considered too low.
December 13, 2013
Austrian GDP per Capita Second-Highest in EU
In terms of GDP per capita, Austria is the second-richest EU country.
December 12, 2013
Hungary: Stable Outlook Yet Still Junk Status
In spite of Matolcsy, governor of the Hungarian National Bank (MNB), demanding a better rating for the country’s credibility, the major rating agencies have not raised them.
December 12, 2013
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
Ten Capital Market Themes for 2014 by Raiffeisenbank
Leading indicators show a recovery of global growth.
December 11, 2013
Improving Situation for Banks in CEE
Raiffeisen analysis getting a notch more optimistic on CEE banks.
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
Major Changes in Hungarian Banking Industry Ahead
The Hungarian government comes closer to its objective. Foreign banks are leaving the country step by step.
December 7, 2013
RZB Faces Severe Restructuring Measures
The Raiffeisen Zentralbank (RZB) is facing severe restructuring and downsizing measures as it has to cut the number of employees.
December 4, 2013
UniCredit: Withdrawal from Hungary as Potential Option
UniCredit does not completely rule out a withdrawal from the Hungarian market in case further burdens will be imposed on banking institutes.
December 4, 2013
Hungary: Matolcsy Demands Resignation of EU Commissioner
György Matolcsy, Governor of the Hungarian National Bank (MNB), demands a better rating for Hungary and the resignation of EU Commissioner Olli Rehn.
December 2, 2013
Hungary: Economic Acceleration Takes Form
According to French BNP, the Hungarian economy starts to grow again. Nevertheless, the banking industry does not face better times yet.
November 29, 2013
CESEE: Slight Growth Acceleration, but Uncertainties Persist
The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) has published the economic forecast for the CESEE region today. The economic performance varies substantially from country to country.
November 28, 2013
Hungarian Parliament Resolves 2014 Budget
Hungary´s scheduled budget deficit in 2014 comes at 2.9% of the GDP. Economists are in doubt whether the deficit will be achieved.
November 27, 2013
RBI Faces Austerity Measures.
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) does not take into consideration capital increase.
November 27, 2013
Hungary: Monetary Policy Eases Further
Today, Hungary´s National Bank (MNB) has cut the two-week deposit rate to 3.2% from 3.4%. The government is optimistic that the monetary easing will help Hungary´s economy.
November 26, 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
Hungary. Forex Loans Probed by Supreme Court
Due to the upcoming elections in 2014, Hungary´s government puts pressure on the Supreme Court.
November 25, 2013
Wide Parts of CESEE Region Below Pre-Crisis Level
In terms of economic output, a large number of CESEE countries have not reached the level of 2008 yet. The growth outlook remains cautious.
November 25, 2013
Hungary: Further Cuts to Come
György Matolcsy, governor of the Hungarian National Bank MNB, stresses that there is room for further base rate cuts.
November 21, 2013
RBI: Fresh Money for Slovenian Subsidiary
Raiffeisen Bank International, the third biggest lender in CESEE, injects € 10m into the Slovenian subsidiary.
November 21, 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
Raiffeisen Bank International: Sale of Hungarian Affiliate No Taboo Anymore
As reported by Vindobona, Vienna-listed RBI is examining offers for the Hungarian subsidiary. For RBI, Hungary is the biggest loss-maker.
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
RBI Examines Sale Offers in Hungary
Apart from the withdrawal from Ukraine, Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) considers an exit from Hungary.
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
Hungary: NPLs at Record High
The number of NPLs has reached a new record high, according to MNB.
November 18, 2013
Hungary: Level of Credit Defaults Declining Significantly
According to OTP Bank, the level of credit defaults from borrowers has started to drop to the lowest level since the beginning of the financial and economic crisis.
November 15, 2013
Half of Austrians Consider the Country Stuck in Recession
According to an online survey, the Austrians are confident and not concerned by the most recent recession in the Eurozone. With a total of 87 index points consumer’s confidence remained stable in the third quarter of 2013.
November 12, 2013
Frame Conditions for Banks Remain Difficult in Hungary
The Hungarian banking sector is highly dissatisfied with the regulation environment, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development reported.
November 9, 2013
Unequal Retail Real Estate Investment Activity in CESEE
While investments in retail real estate in Bulgaria see an upturn, those in Romania have dropped immensely by more than 50 percent.
November 8, 2013
Banking Sector Reduces Lending
Instead of offering loans to the corporate sector, banks tend to invest in sovereign bonds. The CESEE region is particularly affected by this.
November 6, 2013
Hungary: Parliament Resolves Bank Act
The Hungarian banking sector, which is dominated by Austrian banks, faces new difficulties.
November 5, 2013
Hungary: Another Bad Surprise for Banks
The Hungarian government plans to shift even more burdens to the banking sector. Costs for the banking sector will reach more than € 3.5bn.
November 4, 2013
Hungary: Unemployment Continues Downward Trend
In September, Hungary´s unemployment rate was down by 0.6 percentage points. The number of jobseekers is 8.1% less than in 2012.
November 1, 2013
Hungary: Moderate Increase in Foreign Trade
From January to August 2013, Hungary´s export volume was up by 1.4%. Imports increased by 0.4% year-on-year.
November 1, 2013
Visegrad Countries Encourage Western Balkans to Join EU
Representatives from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary support the EU accession of Western Balkan countries.
October 31, 2013
Hungary: Conflict with Banks Sharpens
Hungary´s Minister of Finance Mihaly Varga rejects the proposal submitted by the banking association.
October 29, 2013
Czech Republic: Social Democrats to Win
Tomorrow, the Czech Republic will hold early elections. All polls are indicating a clear change in power. Bohuslav Sobotka is expected to become the next head of government.
October 25, 2013
Hungary: Orban Underlines National Sovereignty
On the occasion of Hungary´s national holiday, Prime Minister Viktor Orban stressed the importance of values. The high public debt limits Hungary´s effective sovereignty, however.
October 24, 2013
Public Debt: CESEE Countries Below EU Average
At the end of the first half of 2013, the EU public debt quota reached 86.8% of GDP. Western Europe´s public debt level is significantly higher than in Eastern Europe.
October 23, 2013
„Czech Republic Does Not Fully Use Its Potential“
Czech Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok thinks that the performance of the Czech economy is not dramatically bad. However, the Czech Republic must use its opportunities more effectively.
October 17, 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
Hungary’s Industrial Output Growth Exceeds EU average
In August this year, industrial performance – according to workday-adjusted data – increased by 0.9 percent in comparison to the corresponding period of 2012.
October 17, 2013
Poland: 70 Percent against Introduction of Euro
According to a recent survey carried out by Public Opinion Research Center (CBOS) as many as 70 percent reject the idea of introducing the Euro to Poland.
October 15, 2013
Solution to Croatian/Hungarian Mol Issue Expected Soon
The Croatian justice has issued an international arrest warrant for the head of Hungarian oil company Mol.
October 15, 2013