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Hungary
Cernko: „Triple A Only in the Medium Term“
Bank Austria´s CEO Willibald Cernko does not think that Austria re-gains its “AAA” status within the next three years.
February 16, 2012
Bank Austria Writes Off Greek Bonds
The Austrian subsidiary of the Italian UniCredit Group has to write off Greek sovereign bonds by € 100m.
February 13, 2012
RBI: „Capital Increase is Pure Speculation“
The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International, which is said to plan a capital increase, points out that this information is a “pure rumor”.
February 9, 2012
Russian Natural Gas Supply to Normalize
According to the Austrian oil and gas company OMV, gas deliveries from Russia are increasing slightly.
February 8, 2012
Capital Increase at RBI?
According to market rumors, Raiffeisen Bank International is said to revisit € 1.00bn sale as shares rise.
February 8, 2012
Hungary: 160,000 Loan Takes Convert Foreign Currency Debt
According to the Hungarian Financial market authority, 142,000 Hungarian households repaid foreign currency debt. Further 19,000 are expected.
February 7, 2012
CEE Countries with Bigger Space for Higher Bond Yields
Romania, Czech Republic and Slovakia with biggest room for manoeuvre in case yields would spike; Hungary should avoid financing at +6%, says Erste Group.
February 6, 2012
VBI Sale: Closing Expected for Mid-February
The Russian Sberbank buys VBI from Austrian VBAG. The price totals € 505m.
February 6, 2012
Porr Extends Capital Increase
The Austrian construction group intends to restock its planned capital increase. The minimum volume is € 30m.
February 2, 2012
Losses in Hungary Keep Within a Limit
The deadline for the conversion of Hungarian foreign currency loans expired. Austrian banks think that their provisions are sufficient.
February 1, 2012
3E Group Grows in Eastern Europe
The Austrian building material company´s revenues were up by 3.2% in 2011. Total sales reached € 546m.
January 30, 2012
Lutz Enters Croatia
The Austrian furniture store group opens its largest center in the SEE region. Market leader Ikea follows in autumn 2012.
January 26, 2012
Sberbank: € 500m for Austrian VBI
The Russian Sberbank officially bids € 500m for VBI, the subsidiary of Austrian VBAG.
January 26, 2012
RBI´s CEO Expects € 60m Losses in Hungary
Herbert Stepic, CEO of Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International, emphasizes to stay in Hungary. The foreign currency debt conversion causes severe losses.
January 26, 2012
Austrian Mercedes Production Endangered to Shift to Hungary
Construction of the SUV Mercedes G-class could switch from the Magna factory in Graz to Hungary.
January 24, 2012
Central Bank Act: Orban Gives In
Hungary waives the planned merger of the Central Bank and the Financial Market Authority. Yesterday, Austria´s Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Orban in Budapest.
January 21, 2012
Turkey Emphasizes Support for Nabucco
Besides the Russian South-Stream project, Turkey also shows support for Nabucco, where Austrian OMV is strongly engaged in.
January 21, 2012
New Record in Agricultural Exports
In 2011, Austrian food exports exceeded € 9.0bn for the first time.
January 21, 2012
Austrian Banks Hold € 18bn in Foreign Sovereign Bonds
At the end of October 2011, the exposure of Austrian banks in foreign sovereign bonds was € 18.1bn. The largest volumes are invested in Poland and Italy.
January 19, 2012
Treichl: „Erste Could Bear Hair Cut in Hungary“
Andreas Treichl, Erste Group´s CEO, is optimistic for Hungary. A withdrawal of Erste Group is not considered.
January 18, 2012
Porr: Capital Increase Flows Smoothly
According to Porr´s CEO Karl Heinz Strauss, the Austrian construction group raises ist capital within the next 60 days. Operating business is performing well, Strauss says.
January 16, 2012
Downgrade: „It´s Time to Take Action“
The downgrade of Austria´s rating from “AAA” to “AA+” caused mixed reactions. The Austrian economy urges for structural actions.
January 15, 2012
Treichl Does Not Expect Hungarian National Insolvency
In spite of a large exposure in Hungary, Andreas Treichl, Erste Group´s CEO is optimistic. By 2014, Erste Group Hungary should be profitable again.
January 14, 2012
Austria to Lose its AAA
According to partially confirmed market rumors, S&P will downgrade France and Austria.
January 13, 2012
Exit in Hungary Would be Expensive
In case of leaving the Hungarian market, Austrian banks would face enormous costs, says Citigroup.
January 13, 2012
Austrian Banks Must Downsize in Hungary
Erste Group and Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) must streamline their operations. Nevertheless, a further capital increase could become necessary.
January 12, 2012
Pressure on Hungary Increases
The chairman of the Austrian Central Bank, Ewald Nowotny, sees no danger for Austrian banks from Hungary. EU and IMF criticize the Hungarian government.
January 11, 2012
VIG Has „No Problems in Hungary“
“We are an insurance group and not a bank.”, said the management of Vienna Insurance Group. Nevertheless, the developments are observed thoroughly.
January 11, 2012
Slow Growth in CEE Expected
According to Raiffeisen Research, real GDP in CEE to grow by 2.0 per cent in 2012, while Austria set to post GDP decline of 0.5 per cent.
January 11, 2012
CA Immo Secures Refinancing for Project in Budapest
The Austrian real estate company CA Immo has agreed on refinancing for an office building in Budapest with Bank Austria. The investment totals € 27.0m.
January 10, 2012
Fitch: Austria´s AAA-Rating Not Endangered
According to the U.S. rating agency, the financial stability in Austria is still excellent. The bond auction today went well.
January 10, 2012
Hungarian Crisis: BIS Warns Austria Insistently
A collapse of the Hungarian economy would hit Austria very hard, says the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Austrian Banks have a high exposure.
January 9, 2012
Austrian Banks Have $ 41.0bn Exposure in Hungary
After another downgrade, a national bankruptcy of Hungary is not excluded anymore. Consequences for Austrian banks would not be foreseeable.
January 7, 2012
Hungary Becomes Fundamental Risk Factor for Austrian Banks
Over the last weeks, fears of a Hungarian bankruptcy grew drastically. The Hungarian Forint has reached a new record low.
January 5, 2012
Hungary: High Losses for Banks
According to the Hungarian banking association, costs for the coerced conversion of foreign currency loans reach about € 952m.
January 4, 2012
CEE Investments Recommended
According to Erste Group, equities to become more attractive in 2012 compared to 2011. Turkey is seen as highly interesting investment location.
January 4, 2012
Austrian Enterprises Fear Nationalization in Hungary
Nationalization plans induce fierce criticism against the Hungarian Government. The Austrian waste management industry would be hit hard.
January 2, 2012
RBI Rules Out Sale of Eastern European Subsidiaries
CEO Herbert Stepic expects a very difficult year 2012 for the entire banking industry.
December 29, 2011
Capital Increase for Raiffeisen Hungary
In light of massive loss expectations the Hungarian subsidiary will reduce its headcount and close down several branches.
December 23, 2011
Record-Breaking Start of Tourism Winter Season
Austria’s tourism industry registered 3.98 million overnights in November. Arrivals rose by 3.5%.
December 23, 2011
Foreign Currency Loans: Austrian Banks Appreciate Hungarian Decision
Austrian banks reacted positively to the announcement of the Hungarian government to participate in costs for the conversion of foreign currency loans.
December 19, 2011
Bank Austria Reviews Strategy for CEE
In its expansion strategy, the bank focuses on four countries. Plans for Hungary and Romania are stopped, up to 450 jobs will be cut.
December 17, 2011
Changes to the Management Board of Erste Group
The Supervisory Board of the Austrian bank took several personnel decisions that concern the holding company as well as the subsidiaries in Hungary and Romania.
December 15, 2011
Sale of Croatian OMV Petrol Stations Begins
OMV´s current market share in Croatia is 13%. Almost every major oil company in Europe shows interest.
December 9, 2011
Erste Group: Drastic Cut in Hungary
The Austrian bank cuts 450 jobs in Hungary. However, Erste Group emphasizes to stay in Central and Eastern Europe.
December 9, 2011
Austrian Foreign Trade Deficit on the Rise
From January to September 2011: imports rose by 17%, exports increased by 14%. The deficit amounts to € 6.0bn.
December 7, 2011
Porr Considers Capital Increase
In order to realize further growth, the owners of the second-largest Austrian construction company plan to raise the equity base.
December 3, 2011
Porr Issues Profit Warning
The Austrian construction company has to write down € 90m of receivables due to problems in Eastern Europe. For next year, however, management is confident to see stable development.
December 1, 2011
RBI Posts Decline in Nine-Month Profit
The Austrian bank might have to write down the goodwill on its Ukrainian subsidiary. Consolidated profit declined by 4.8% to € 745m in the first three quarters.
November 24, 2011
Drop in Revenue for SW Umwelttechnik
The Austrian technology group was particularly burdened by a decrease in quantities in Hungary. The loss on ordinary activities doubled from € -1.6m to € -3.3m.
November 23, 2011