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Serbia: Program for New Government in Progress
The future government will have to implement extensive reforms. Vucic, whose party saw a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections, is working on the government’s program.
March 26, 2014
Poland: Good Starting Point for Economic Growth
Economic growth for 2014 is expected to accelerate to 3.1 percent to 3.2 percent in the first quarter while for the full year it is anticipated to come at 3.5 percent, according to Polish Economy Minister Janusz Piechocinski.
March 26, 2014
Poland: Economy Proves Immune to Ukrainian Crisis
According to Governor of the Polish National Bank (NBP) Marek Belka, the Polish economy has so far proved stable and almost remained unaffected by the political crisis in Ukraine.
March 26, 2014
Poland: Promising Years Ahead
Poland observes the crisis in Ukraine with great concern, but does not forget to upgrade national resources.
March 25, 2014
Serbia: President Announced “Pro-Serbian Government”
Tomislav Nikolic, Serbian President, announded the future government to be pro-Serbian.
March 24, 2014
Serbia Wants to Keep Balance Between Russia and EU
Serbia´s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic does not want to stab Russia in the back. At the same time, Dacic keeps an eye on Brussels.
March 24, 2014
Czech Growth to Speed Up
Due to the increase in foreign demand, the advisory company EY expects the Czech economy to revive this year.
March 24, 2014
Faymann Does Not Rule Out Economic Sanctions Against Russia
Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann wants to avoid further conflicts with Russia and to put effort into diplomacy instead. Economic sanctions are no taboo, though.
March 24, 2014
Zeman Wants Ukraine to Cooperate with Brussels
According to Czech President Milos Zeman, Russia´s occupation of the Crimea is a “cold-bloodedly” step against the Ukraine. The crisis-ridden country should work together more closely with the EU.
March 22, 2014
Sanctions Against Russia: Massive Threat for Austrian Banks
Brussels plans to impose economic sanctions on Russia. The Austrian financial sector would suffer enormously an escalating conflict with Moscow.
March 19, 2014
Immofinanz: Substantial Increase in Profits
In the first nine months of 2013/14, the Vienna-listed group registered an increase in net income by 7.1%. For the time being, Immofinanz is not affected by the Crimea crisis.
March 19, 2014
CEE: Investments to Boost Economic Growth
In the coming two years economic growth in Eastern Europe is expected to accelerate to an average of two to three percent of GDP triggered by a boost in investments.
March 13, 2014
CEE Countries Condemn Russian Intervention in Ukraine
Foreign Ministers of the Visegrad countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) want to strengthen the EU defense policy. Poland intensifies its military cooperation with the U.S.
March 8, 2014
Austrian Banking Sector Fears New Crisis in Russia
For both Bank Austria and Raiffeisen Bank International, the crisis in Ukraine is an enormous threat. What is more, Russia might develop into a serious danger for foreign banks.
March 8, 2014
Ukrainian Crisis: Czech Republic Against Sanctions
Instead of economic sanctions against Russia, diplomatic talks should de-escalate the tense situation. President Zeman wants to create a Ukrainian Federation.
March 8, 2014
Hungary: OTP Bank’s Profits Vanished by Provisions and Taxes
A decrease on the operating profit, increasing risk provisions and taxes drained almost all profits made in the fourth quarter last year.
March 7, 2014
VBAG to Sell Romanian Subsidiary
The Austrian partly nationalized VBAG has started the sale of the loss-making Romanian affiliate.
March 5, 2014
Polish Financial Market Proves Strong
The financial market in Poland is resistant towards negative impacts resulting from the current political crisis in neighbor country Ukraine.
March 5, 2014
Ukraine: Poland Wants to Put Pressure on Russia
Poland´s President Bronislaw Komorowski underlined that the U.S. has given assurances on Poland´s security. Prime Minister Tusk calls for solidarity with Ukraine.
March 3, 2014
„The World is Close to an Enormous Conflict“
Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk is highly concerned about the developments in Ukraine. Tusk warned insistently of an escalation of the conflict, which might entail “unforeseeable consequences”.
March 2, 2014
Polish Currency Suffers from Instability in Ukraine
The Polish Zloty has become weaker because of the political instability in Ukraine.
February 28, 2014
Austrian Banks with Significant Exposure in Ukraine
Ukrainian crisis hits Western Banks in different state compared to 2008/09, according to RBI.
February 27, 2014
CEE Financial Markets under Pressure as Riots Continue in Ukraine
CEE markets under pressure as Ukraine violence heats up. Biggest direct risk to Polish Zloty, but also to Hungarian Forint and Romanian Leu.
February 21, 2014
Austria Most Popular Country among Hungarians
93 percent of Hungarians feel compassion towards Austria.
February 19, 2014
Real Estate: Outskirts of Vienna Popular Among East Europeans
More and more well situated East Europeans discover the suburban regions surrounding the Austrian capital. Unlike in Vienna, property prices are going up steadily.
February 4, 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
Bawag to Be Sold?
According to rumours, the fifth largest Austrian lender may be sold.
January 31, 2014
CESEE: Overtaking Western Europe Not Before 2055
According to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the transition period of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe will take longer than initially expected.
January 29, 2014
Austria: Sberbank Affected By Further Costs
Sberbank is faced with further aids for Austrian Volksbank International (VBI). So far the Russian bank has pumped a total of € 1.3bn into Sberbank Europe.
January 27, 2014
NLB Closing Moscow Office
The step is part of the restructuring and downsizing procedure.
January 27, 2014
Austria: Fischer Calls Upon Respect of Human Rights
At the New Year Reception for the diplomatic corps in Austria, President Heinz Fischer called upon the strict compliance to human rights.
January 20, 2014
Expansion Course of Austrian Banks Slowed Down
After the financial crisis cooled down the expansion course of Austrian banks in CESEE countries was dampened down.
January 16, 2014
CESEE: Massive Increase in Real Estate Investments
In Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, the total volume of real estate transactions totaled € 10.bn last year. Most transactions were recorded in Russia and Poland.
January 15, 2014
Bank Austria Declines Selling Plans in Ukraine
CEO of Bank Austria, Gianni Franco Papa, rejects rumors about Bank Austria intending to leave the Ukraine.
January 14, 2014
CESEE: Number of NPL Declining
According to a study by Bank Austria, the number of bad loans is declining in Central and Eastern Europe.
January 14, 2014
RBI Expects Growth to Accelerate in 2014
2014 marked by growth recovery, according to RBI Research.
January 9, 2014
Growing Evidence for RBI’s Withdrawal from Hungary
According to media reports, Hungarian partly nationalized Szechenyi Commercial Bank has placed an offer for the take-over of RBI’s Hungarian affiliate.
January 7, 2014
Austria: VBAG May Require Further State Aid
Partially nationalized VBAG is expected to post losses of more than € 200m.
December 20, 2013
VIG: Sale of Bulgarian Affiliate Failed
Vienna Insurance Group has to find a new buyer for the Bulgarian pension fund Doverie. United Capital, the potential buyer of Doverie has lost its bank license.
December 16, 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
Sberbank: Lawsuit Against VBAG
The largest Russian banking group has filed a lawsuit against Austrian VBAG at the International Court of Arbitration.
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
Sberbank Strives for Organic Growth in CESEE
In 2012, the largest Russian bank took over VBAG´s sub-holding for the CESEE region. As Sberbank still has to invest a lot in the former subsidiary of Austrian VBAG, CEO German Gref is not perfectly satisfied with the acquisition.
November 27, 2013
Ukraine Leaves Path Towards EU
After the Association Agreement between the Ukraine and the European Union failed head of state Mykola Asarov stated economic reasons for the abrupt stop.
November 22, 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
Austerity Cuts at Sberbank
Russian Sberbank aims to become more efficient. The management cuts about a tenth of the jobs.
November 13, 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
WEF: Russian Economy Needs Change in Domestic Institutional Environment
The Russian Federation is poised for transformation.
November 1, 2013
Slovak Banking Industry Records Growing Net Income
In the first nine months of 2013, Slovakia´s banking sector recorded a total net profit of € 449m.
November 1, 2013
Dispute about Gas between Russian and Ukraine about to Escalate
According to Russian energy giant Gazprom, Ukraine has not yet paid deliveries of natural gas in the amount of around € 639m.
October 29, 2013