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Monetary Policy
Serbia: Privredna Banka to Face Bankruptcy Proceedings
National Bank of Serbia annuls the operating license from Privredna banka. Bankruptcy proceedings are ahead.
October 29, 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
Poland: T-Bonds not to Affect Budget Deficit
According to GUS, next year’s budget deficit will not be impaired by the transfer of treasury bonds and other assets.
October 28, 2013
Albania Fighting NPLs
The Bank of Albania discusses introducing a policy for reducing non-performing loans and enhance lending.
October 28, 2013
EU Summit Calls for Finalization of Joint Guidelines for ESM
The EU Summit presses for faster changes to achieve the aim of a banking union.
October 25, 2013
Poland: Key Rate to Remain Low
In order to support the positive growth trend, the Polish National Bank (NBP) will keep the key rate flat next year. Poland´s economic growth is mainly based on foreign demand, though.
October 24, 2013
Czech Republic: Four Banks too Big to Fail
CNB has determined four domestic banks that could potentially endanger the country’s financial system in case of bankruptcy, as reported by daily “Hospodarske noviny” (HN).
October 24, 2013
ECB: “Uniform Assessment for Banks Important Step for Europe”
Assessment of ECB is an important step in the preparation of the single supervisory mechanism.
October 24, 2013
Serbia Cuts Interest Rate
The executive board of the Serbian National Bank decided to lower the key policy rate by half a percentage point, to 10.5 percent.
October 21, 2013
Hypo Group Reigned by Greed and Criminal Activities
In an interview with Austrian daily “Standard“ forensic expert of nationlized Hypo Group Christian Böhler revealed that former managers of the bank enriched themselves personally.
October 21, 2013
Poland: IMF Upgrades Growth Forecasts
According to the IMF, Poland´s GDP growth will reach 2.4%. In the prior forecast, the IMF anticipated a 2.2% growth rate.
October 21, 2013
Nowotny Demands Same Rules for All Banks
Govenor Nowotny urges for a discussion about the capital requirements (Basel III) for banks, which applies only for the major banking institutes in the US but for all banks in Europe.
October 18, 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
Mitterlehner: “2014 Will Become Significantly Better“
Austrian Minister for Economy Reinhold Mitterlehner considers the Austrian economy to be in a spirit of optimism as an upturn in Europe has become evident. According to him, 2014 is supposed to become “significantly better” than 2013.
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
Poland: Inflation Remains Stable
Inflation net of food and energy prices amounted to 1.3% y/y, representing a 0.1 pp decrease on the figure recorded in the two previous months.
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
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
Romania: “Aggressive Rate Cuts Likely”
In view of the accelerating disinflation in Romania, Vienna-listed RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) expects the monetary policy to be eased further.
October 12, 2013
Serbia: FX Reserves Shrink
NBS FX reserves amounted to EUR 10,444.5 million at end-September, covering M1 by 333 percent and more than seven months of imports of goods and services. Inflation remains stable.
October 11, 2013
Croatia: Inflation Moderate
At the session the CNB Council examined recent economic and monetary indicators, as well as expected further developments.
October 10, 2013
Czech Inflation Below Expectations
The Czech inflation rate slowed down to 1.0% in September. In the next months, the country faces a stagnating economy in the best case.
October 9, 2013
Hungary: Easing Cycle Nears Its End
After the interest cut last week, there is still downward potential. However, MNB must be cautious, Hungary´s rate setter Gyula Pleschinger told WSJ.
October 4, 2013
Romania: Recovery Depends on External Factors
Thanks to foreign demand and foreign investors, Romania´s economy accelerates. However, domestic demand is still the country´s weak point.
October 4, 2013
Sevelda: Not the Right Time for Capital Increase
In an interview with Financial Times (FT) Karl Sevelda, CEO of RBI, states that a capital increase would be difficult at the moment due to an unfavorable economic environment.
October 4, 2013
Austria: Downsizing Models for Hypo
Currently, everything revolves around the establishing of a bad bank despite of Finance Minister Maria Fekter’s objection. However, now, after the elections, this issue needs to be resolved.
October 4, 2013
Economic Recovery and Interest Rate Turnaround Also in Austria?
Not only Germany but also the peripheral areas of the European Union see economic recovery supported by an increasing export activity.
October 3, 2013
Romania: Consumption Remains Sluggish
In order to support Romania´s economy, the National Bank of Romania continues its monetary easing policy.
October 3, 2013
Poland: NBP Holds Interest Rate Flat
In order to support Poland´s economy, the Council of Polish National Bank has decided to keep the base rate at its historic low.
October 3, 2013
Austria: Better off within Eurozone
Economic experts claim that since the beginning of the single currency union, Austria has seen an additional economic growth of 0.4 percent. According to them, a collapse of the Eurozone would lead to a massive decline in exports.
October 2, 2013
Czech Republic: GDP to Contract Less Drastically
The year-on-year decrease of the gross domestic product in 2012 has been refined to 0.9% against the up-to-now published 1.2%.
October 1, 2013
Poland: Majority Still against Joining Eurozone
According to a poll, 52 percent of Polish citizens regard the country’s joining the single currency union will be bad for the country.
October 1, 2013
Romania Cuts Base Rate to Record Low
The Romanian Central Bank has cut the base rate to a record low of 4.25 percent.
September 30, 2013
Czech Republic: No Foreign Exchange Interventions
As the Czech economy shows first signs of recovery, the Czech National Bank (CNB) decided against further monetary instruments.
September 27, 2013
ESM Charges € 262 From Every Austrian
The establishing of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) burdens every Austrian citizens with an average amount of € 262. Luxembourg is the country contributing the most per capita followed by Ireland.
September 24, 2013
CNB: No Monetary Interventions Necessary
The Czech Republic´s economy moves forward slowly. A weaker koruna is not necessary.
September 24, 2013
RBI: Sevelda to Remain CEO unil 2017
Karl Sevelda, who was appointed new CEO of listed Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) at the beginning of June, does not regard himself as interim head of the bank.
September 23, 2013
Slovenia: First Budget Surplus in 2013
For the first time this year, Slovenia shows a budget surplus of € 15m. However, the deficit of the first eight months is as high as € 1.3bn, according to data by the Finance Ministry.
September 20, 2013
Bank Austria to Close Subsidiaries in Hungary
Because of higher costs caused by a tax on financial transaction, which was introduced during the current year, the affiliate of Italian UniCredit intends to downsize operations in Hungary.
September 19, 2013
Romania Is Recovering According to PM
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta presented the key issues on the new agreement with the EU Commission, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to the parliament on Tuesday.
September 19, 2013
Treichl: Requirements for Banks Increased Massively
According to the CEO of Erste Group, the requirements for banks have increased by three to six times. Moreover it has become harder for banks to finance small and medium sized enterprises (SME).
September 17, 2013
Czech Republic: No Further Monetary Easing
As long there are no risks of deflation, the Czech National Bank will leave the current monetary policy unchanged. Further easing measures are not necessary.
September 15, 2013
Eurogroup Grants Cyprus Further € 1.5bn
Payments will be made at the end of September
September 13, 2013
Hypo Needs € 700m in Capital Increase
The ailing banking group needs a further capital injection in order to fulfill the lawful capital adequacy requirements.
September 12, 2013
Hungary: Monetary Easing Policy to be Continued
Hungary´s National Bank MNB has decided to extend the “lending for growth” program until 2014. In total, the program´s volume comes at € 7.0bn.
September 12, 2013
Czech Republic: Monetary Interventions more Probable
Because of an unexpectedly lower inflation rate, foreign exchange interventions are more likely to come.
September 11, 2013
Slovenia Shuts Down Two Small Banks
In order to ensure the stability of its financing sector, Slovenia decided to liquidate two banks, Factor Banka and Probanka. According to state officials, the step was also taken to avoid international bailout.
September 9, 2013
Eight Austrian Banks to be Supervized by ECB
The European Central Bank will supervise 130 banks in the Eurozone. 18 German and six Austrian banks will have a new supervision authority.
September 6, 2013
Austria: Spindelegger in Favor of “Creative Model“ for Banks
Deputy Chancellor Spindelegger seems willing to lead open discussions about the extension of bank levies.
September 6, 2013
Faymann: “Banks Should Pay for Hypo”
Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann does not consider a new austerity package necessary despite of the threatening billions of Euros for the selling and winding-up of the ailing bank.
September 5, 2013