OeNB Austrian National Bank

Strong Current Account Balance Is Driven by Exports

The Austrian current account showed a surplus of € 3.8bn in the first quarter of 2011. The total amount of Austrian FDI was higher than in the full year 2010.

July 12, 2011

Slow Recovery in Banks’ Lending Activity

Corporate loans recovered faster than loans to private households. Interest rates have increased only slightly since April 2010.

July 11, 2011

Economic Report 2011: Government Surprised by Quick Recovery

Experts praise Austria’s relatively stable performance during the years of crisis and call for reforms necessary for ensuring the country’s competitiveness.

July 8, 2011

Profit Situation of Austrian Banks Improved Significantly

The banks recorded a positive development in the first quarter. However, net profits of the full year will fall as a result of the newly introduced bank tax.

June 27, 2011

Austrian Financial Sector Stable – Remaining Challenges in Particular Business Segments

Stress test results show Austria’s banks to be more resistant to risks than in 2010 – Boosting equity remains on the agenda nevertheless.

June 21, 2011

Hypo Group: End of the First Round in the Bidding Process

Today, Friday, was the closing date for the submission of tenders for Hypo Group’s Austrian business. The sale process is expected to take several months.

June 17, 2011

Austrian Economy Growing Faster than Eurozone Average

OeNB has revised its growth forecast for 2011 upwards to 3.2%. Lower rates are expected for 2012 and 2013.

June 17, 2011

IMF Calls for More Ambitious Budgetary Consolidation

Austria was asked to make higher efforts to reduce its debt. The IMF recommends savings in the pension and health care systems as well as lower state subsidies in next year’s budget.

June 14, 2011

Stagnating Level of New Bank Lending

Loan development in the first quarter: increase in long-term lending, but decline in total corporate lending volume.

June 10, 2011

Economic Growth Is Based on Households and Exports

In 2010, Austrian economic output grew stronger than the Eurozone average. GDP amounted to € 284bn.

June 8, 2011

Slight Decline in OeNB’s Profit in 2010

The Austrian national bank's operating profit came to € 291m in the previous year. € 269m will be paid to the central government.

May 26, 2011

Eastern Europe Becoming Attractive Again

For two years Austrians have abstained from investing in Eastern Europe, resulting in a loss of market share in these countries. Interest starts to recover now.

May 25, 2011

Capital Requirement of Austria's Banks: € 19bn

According to the Austrian National Bank, domestic banks needed at least € 19bn in equity capital by 2010 to meet capital requirements.

April 21, 2011

Occupational Pension Funds: Deposits in Investment funds +32%

By the end of 2010, the volume of pension rights of the ten occupational pension funds operating in Austria amounted to € 3.56bn, representing an increase of 26% compared with the end of December 2009.

April 12, 2011

OeNB: "Positive Signals from the Banking System"

The expected consolidated net income of Austrian banks rose to € 4.58bn, generated in large part on foreign markets.

March 30, 2011

Economic Growth at 3.5% in the First Months of 2011

The Austrian economy is expanding relatively strongly, driven by the robust external demand.

March 26, 2011 · Updated: March 27, 2011; 00:00

Austrian National Bank Expects Tougher "Stress Tests"

The EU-wide bank stress tests planned for 2012 should turn out to be more rigorous, according to the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB).

March 19, 2011

Sales Record for Schoeller Münzhandel

Schoeller Münzhandel, a subsidiary of the Austrian Mint, recorded sales for € 438.5m last year.

March 15, 2011

Gaddafi Family Assets in Austria are Frozen

More than € 1.2bn of funds invested in Austria are to be blocked after international sanctions.

March 2, 2011

ECB: Praet Succeeds Tumpel-Gugerell

The Belgian Peter Praet succeeds the Austrian Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell as new member of the Executive Board of the ECB (European Central Bank).

February 15, 2011

National Bank Warns against Foreign Currency Loans

According to the governor of the Österreichischen Nationalbank (OeNB, Austrian National Bank), Ewald Nowotny, the sum of pending foreign currency loans in Austria is € 54bn.

February 3, 2011

Unmodified Lending Policy of Austrian Banks

Austrian banks did not change their lending policy in the fourth quarter of 2010, no modifications are expected for the current quarter either.

January 28, 2011

Slight Slowdown of Austria’s Economy

According to the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), economic growth slowed down temporarily at the turn of the year.

January 22, 2011

EU: New Early Warning System Against Financial Market Risks

Two Austrian officials point out the relevance of the new institution, which will particularly benefit Austria.

January 21, 2011

VBI Romania is a Source of Worries for ÖVAG

Volksbank International (VBI) is to be sold by the Austrian Volksbanken Group. The Romanian subsidiary keeps the group from doing so.

December 31, 2010

Nowotny Calls for Consistent Budget Consolidation

The Governor of the OeNB draws balance at the end of the year and gives his outlook on the challenges for 2011

December 30, 2010

Profits Increase for Banks in Austria

The profitability in the first three quarters of 2010 of Austrian banks shows continued strong growth.

December 29, 2010

Voestalpine: Franz Rotter taking over from Claus Raidl

Already on Monday 31st March 2010 the Supervisory Board of voestalpine AG appointed Mr. Franz Rotter to the Management Board of voestalpine AG, with effect from 1st January 2011.

December 27, 2010

OeNB: Recovery of the Financial System in a Persistently Uncertain Environment

The OeNB considers that domestic banks benefit from the positive development in the CEE region. However, uncertainties stay on as before.

December 15, 2010

Extensive Refinancing Needs by Austrian Banks

Due to the maturity of large loan volumes, Austria's banks will need at least € 20bn next year.

December 14, 2010

Nowotny: No Euro-bonds Yet

Although he supports the euro-bonds in principle, the time has not come yet for the Governor of the Austrian National Bank.

December 10, 2010

Austrian National Bank: Credit Shortage Has Been Overcome

The analysis of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB, Austrian National Bank) on loan growth shows slowly recovering credit dynamics in Austria.

December 8, 2010

Nowotny Pleads for Euro-Bonds

The governor of the Austrian National Bank, Ewald Nowotny, is for the introduction of euro-bonds. Germany’s resistance is pre-programmed.

December 6, 2010

Triple-A Rating: Treichl vs. Nowotny

The Chairman of the Erste Group is not convinced anymore by Austria's financial policy; the Governor of the National Bank however, still stands on "AAA".

December 3, 2010

Stable Recovery of Austrian Economy

The Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB, Austrial National Bank) is assuming a growth of the economy of 1.9% for 2010. Further acceleration is possible for subsequent years.

December 3, 2010

Equity Requirements of Austrian Banks are € 18 billion

Due to the new Basel III regulations, Austrian banks will need a much stronger capital base by 2019. The estimation is € 15 billion to € 18 billion.

December 2, 2010

OeNB Governor Nowotny Approves of Ireland Protection Measures

The governor of the Austrian National Bank says the decisions on Ireland and the European stability mechanism are positive.

November 29, 2010

Lending Rates of Domestic Banks Significantly Lower Than in the Euro Area

The lending interest rates for private households and businesses have risen recently. But despite this, rates are more advantageous than in other euro-countries.

November 23, 2010

OeNB Governor Nowotny "During the Crisis, the Euro Acted as a Protection Shield Beyond the Euro Area"

The Governor of the Austrian National Bank, Ewald Nowotny warns to fiscal discipline and talks about economic challenges and opportunities in Europe.

November 15, 2010

Trichet Succession: The Austrian Nowotny Has Chances As Outsider

The European Central Bank (ECB) will appoint a new president in November 2011. The favorites are the German Axel Weber and the Italian Mario Draghi. But Nowotny has outsider chances.

November 5, 2010

Lending Policy of Banks is Stabilized

Results for Austria of the October 2010 credit business survey in the euro area

October 28, 2010

Supervision of Banks: Austria and Russia Intensify Cooperation

A Memorandum of Understanding just signed facilitates cooperation in banking supervision between the two countries.

October 18, 2010

OeNB Governor Nowotny Contradicts the Deutsche Bundesbank

"The ECB should not give up purchasing bonds". Although the bond purchase program of the ECB was not needed in recent weeks, Nowotny wants to go on having it "in reserve”. The German Bundesbank warns of a too late withdrawal.

October 13, 2010

Credit Monitor: Further Decline in Foreign Currency Loans

Such is the development of domestic loans to non-banks in July 2010

October 6, 2010

Austria: Economic Recovery Continues

OeNB economic indicator: After the exceptionally strong economic recovery for the first half year, the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) expects sustained high economic dynamics in Austria for the second half year.

October 1, 2010

Export Indicator: The Economy is Expanding

According to the current results of the OeNB export indicator calculated on the basis of trucking mileage performance data of September 2010, the Austrian export economy has also expanded in the two summer months.

September 17, 2010

OeNB: First-time Increase of Banks’ Total Assets Since End of 2008

By the end of June 2010 the unconsolidated total assets of the reporting banks in Austria amounted to 1037.98 billion euro.

September 16, 2010

FMA and OeNB Welcome the Basel III Agreement

The package draws the right lessons from the financial crisis and provides for reasonable transition periods.

September 14, 2010

OeNB: less corporate loans, but more private loans in June

Austrian Central Bank OeNB reported that in June the volume of new loans extended to private households reached the highest level this year, while the value of new corporate loans dropped.

September 1, 2010

Austrian Banks in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe

According to a recent comparative study from the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), the long-term commitment of Austrian banks in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) offers good prospects.

August 27, 2010
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