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Poland: Consumer Loans Expected to Rise Significantly
Last year consumer loans saw a 16 percent growth which leads to expecations that Poland will register a double-digit growth rate in 2014 as well.
February 12, 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
Challenging Business Environment for Croatian Banks
Last year profits of Croatian banks declined more than 73 percent.
February 12, 2014
Erste Group: Net Results Below Expectations
Erste Group provides business update for 2013: Improvement in risk costs is outweighed by one-off items and tax effects, impacting net profit
February 11, 2014
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Sevelda Rejects „Joint Bad Bank“
Karl Sevelda, CEO of Vienna-listed RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International), does not want to become shareholder of the common bad bank for the nationalized lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
February 9, 2014
Sale of Bad Assets: UniCredit Under Pressure
The parent company of Bank Austria, the Italian lender UniCredit, wants to sell its risky assets as soon as possible. Insiders report that UniCredit wants to sell its “bad bank”.
February 8, 2014 · Updated: February 8, 2014; 14:12
FHB Bank Acquires Stake in Takarek Bank
The largest Hungarian mortgage bank becomes a core shareholder of the Hungarian savings bank Takarek Bank. Takarekbank is an umbrella bank for the Hungarian savings bank sector.
February 7, 2014
Hyp Group Alpe Adria: “No Unnecessary Bankruptcy”
Klaus Liebscher, president of Hypo Group´s supervisory board, points out that Hypo Group´s bankruptcy would involve enormous risks. The Austrian government remains conspicuously calm.
February 7, 2014
Romania: Chitiou Has Lost Support from PNL
As reported by Vindobona, Romania´s Minister of Finance has decided to leave the government. According to rumors, the resignation was forced by senior PNL members.
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
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Bankruptcy Would Affect Foreign Investors
In case of an unorderly insolvency of the Austrian nationalized lender, not only Austrian creditors would have to absorb losses. The majority of the bondholders are German and Swiss investors.
February 6, 2014
Raiffeisen Bank International: Moody´s Downgrades Ukrainian Subsidiary
Due to the political instability, the U.S. rating agency lowers the rating of Aval Bank, the Ukrainian affiliate of Austrian RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International).
February 5, 2014
Roubini: Hungary in Difficulties
A number of emerging countries are facing enormous problems, according to economist Nouriel Roubini. Also countries in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are affected.
February 5, 2014
Austrian Government Does Not Rule Out Hypo Group´s Bankruptcy Anymore (2/2)
In the past few weeks, the Austrian government and the Austrian National Bank excluded this alternative categorically. Now, the bankruptcy scenario seems to be an option again.
February 4, 2014
Austrian Government Does Not Rule Out Hypo Group´s Bankruptcy Anymore (1/2)
In the past few weeks, the Austrian government and the Austrian National Bank excluded this alternative categorically. Now, the bankruptcy scenario seems to be an option again.
February 4, 2014
Santander Interested in Bawag?
The Spanish Banco Santander is said to be interested in Bawag, the German daily “Handelsblatt” reports.
February 3, 2014
„We Must Watch CESEE Very Carefully“
In an interview with the Austrian daily „Standard“, board member of Österreichische Kontrollbank AG Angelika Sommer-Hemetsberger said that the economic crisis in CESEE is not over yet.
February 3, 2014
Tusk: No Monetary Interventions Necessary
In the past few months, the Polish zloty fell significantly. However, Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk thinks that the zloty does not need support.
February 3, 2014
Austria: First Signs of a Credit Crunch
According to the CFO barometer, large enterprises fear that the access to bank loans will continue to worsen. Austrian SME want to become more independent of banks.
February 3, 2014
Suspicious Secrecy in the Cause of Hypo Group Alpe Adria
In the matter of Hypo Group Alpe Adria, the Austrian government acts disconcertingly. Details on the situation of the nationalized banks are still kept as a secret.
February 1, 2014
Hungary: Next Currency Crisis Ahead
The extremely loose monetary policy begins to become a problem for Hungary. The forint exchange rate is going up considerably.
February 1, 2014
Stress Tests Become Harder
Experts expect that not all banks participating in the examination will pass the stress test.
February 1, 2014
KBC Does Not Leave Hungary
The Belgian lender rejected rumors saying that the Hungarian unit may be sold. Not only KBC faces enormous difficulties in Hungary.
February 1, 2014
Upgrades for Slovenian Banks
The long-term ratings of three banks were upgraded by Moody’s.
January 31, 2014
Bawag to Be Sold?
According to rumours, the fifth largest Austrian lender may be sold.
January 31, 2014
Poland: PKO BP Plans Keeping High Level of Loans
Poland’s biggest bank PKO BP plans selling consumer loans in the amount of PLN 2bn in every quarter from now on.
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
Capital Increase at RBI Hungary
RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) will make a capital injection of € 55m in its Hungarian affiliate
January 28, 2014
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Austrian Government Is Helpless
The nationalized lender urgently needs a sustainable future concept. In reality, however, uncertainty is dominating.
January 27, 2014
Hungary Faces Trend Reversal in Monetary Policy
The Hungarian National Bank (MNB) has cut the reference rate to 2.85% from 3.00%. The end of the easing cycle is not reached yet.
January 25, 2014
EBRD Presents New Strategy for Bosnia
The new strategy focuses on the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and the exporting industrial sector.
January 25, 2014
Slovenia: NLB Facing Downsizing Measures
Slovenian NLB is facing severe downsizing measures. As part of the restructuring process, the country’s biggest bank has to lay off personnel.
January 24, 2014
Serbia: World Bank Delays Loan
The World Bank has delayed a loan in the amount of US-$ 250m for Serbia.
January 24, 2014
CEE: Insolvencies Declining But Larger Effect
The number of insolvencies in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is declining. However, the individual insolvencies are becoming larger, as reported by French credit insurer Coface.
January 23, 2014
Poland: Banking Sentiment Rises
The Polish banking sentiment indicator Pengab increased by 1.2 points in January on a month-on-month comparison basis to a total of 27.5 points.
January 23, 2014
Bulgaria Imposes Interest Ceiling on Quick Loans
The Bulgarian parliament plans on putting a lid on the interst rates of quick loans.
January 23, 2014
Slovenia: Bank Losses Tripled in 2013
Over the last year losses in the banking sector tripled to almost € 1.1bn.
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
€ 2.78bn for Raiffeisen Bank International
The second-largest lender in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe has started the capital increase. The free float grows substantially.
January 22, 2014
Austria: Savings to Shrink Further
According to Erste Group, the amount to be saved continues to shrink substantially. What is more, average loan amounts are declining moderately.
January 22, 2014
Bank Dispute between Croatia and Slovenia Reappears
Last year Slovenia was ordered in the first instance to pay back the foreign currency deposits of LB’s former affiliate in Sarajevo.
January 22, 2014
Slovenian Economy to Shrink “Only” 2 Percent
According to the ERBD’s (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) revision, Slovenia’s economy will shrink “only” 2 percent up from a 2.5 contraction of GDP which was forecast in November.
January 22, 2014
Capital Increase: Raiffeisen Bank International Has High Hopes
The second-largest lender in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) wants to raise funds of € 2.9bn. This is substantially more than initially scheduled.
January 21, 2014
„Only A Catastrophy Will Bring a Change“
Bestselling author Marc Friedrich criticizes the IMF sharply and thinks that the Basel III framework is “ridiculous”. The U.S. monetary policy is “doomed to failure”.
January 21, 2014
Erste to Maintain Business in Hungary
According to CEO of Erste Group’s Hungarian affiliate, the bank will remain in the country to expand business activity.
January 21, 2014
Czech Republic: Lending Conditions to Remain Stable
According to the Czech National Bank (CNB), credit conditions for corporate and mortgage loans will remain unchanged while conditions for consumer loans will tighten.
January 20, 2014
Poland to Do without Further Bond Issues
Poland will abstain from issuing new US-Dollar or Eurobonds.
January 20, 2014
„Hungarian Economy Must be Rearranged“
István Töröcskei thinks that the Hungarian banking sector is highly interesting. In general, the financial sector must help to develop the Hungarian economy, Töröcskei argues.
January 18, 2014
Croatia: “Loose Monetary Policy Shows First Signs of Success”
Boris Vujcic, governor of HNB (Croatian National Bank) thinks that the quantitative easing policy works.
January 17, 2014
Oberbank Continues Expansion Strategy
The Austrian regional bank considers Vienna and the Czech Republic as potential growth markets.
January 17, 2014
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