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Slovakia
Vienna Insurance Group Expands Market Leadership in Slovakia
The Group expands its position as the number one in the core market Slovakia. Strong growth above market average. Increase in premiums in all lines of business.
February 17, 2014
Slovakia: Vote of No Confidence against PM Failed
The vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Robert Fico failed in parliament.
February 14, 2014
CEE: Still Growth Market in Real Estate Sector
The region is still a growth market in the real estate sector even after the crisis. However, the legal situation in some CEE countries can be a pitfall to real estate companies.
February 10, 2014
“Fragile Recovery in CEE Banking Sector”
According to the U.S. rating agency Fitch, the banking sector in Central and Eastern Europe is highly heterogeneous.
February 6, 2014
CESEE: Stuck in Transition or Just a Break?
Despite all difficulties in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, the region remains essential for Austria. The long-term growth potential remains intact.
February 6, 2014 · Updated: February 6, 2014; 13:41
CESEE: Corruption Is Still a Major Obstacle
The European Commission has published its first Anti-Corruption Report today. Above all, the economies in Southern and Southeastern Europe are suffering from corruption.
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
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
Kotian: “Growth in CEE is Accelerating“
In an interview with Austrian daily “Wirtschafts-Blatt”, CEE expert at Erste Group, Juraj Kotian, points out that the bond market is expected to see growth supported by the successful reduction of debts and high economic growth.
January 20, 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
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
Romania: Slight Increase in FX Reserves
In December 2013 FX reserves increased slightly compared to the previous month.
January 7, 2014
Southeastern Europe Endangered of Civil Unrests
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, several CESEE countries may face civil unrests in 2014. In particular, Southeastern Europe is in the danger zone.
January 4, 2014
CEE: Economic Sentiment Cautiously Optimistic
The economic sentiment for Eastern European countries is becoming more optimistic, however, only cautiously. Poland is on top of the list of economists at JP Morgan.
January 2, 2014
Slovakia: Date for Presidential Election Fixed
The first round for the presidential elections in Slovakia will take place on March 15, 2014.
December 23, 2013
CESEE: Dependence on Foreign Demand Remains Main Obstacle
In 2014, Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) faces a slight upward trend. The structural difficulties persist, however.
December 21, 2013
Stable Outlook for CESEE Banking Industry
According to the U.S. rating agency fitch, the sector outlook remains stable in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. However, the well-known risks and weaknesses will persist.
December 19, 2013
Slovak Prime Minister Confirms Presidental Candidacy
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who also serves as head of ruling left-winged Smer Party, announced his candidacy for the presidential office next year.
December 18, 2013
Hungary: Stable Outlook Yet Still Junk Status
In spite of Matolcsy, governor of the Hungarian National Bank (MNB), demanding a better rating for the country’s credibility, the major rating agencies have not raised them.
December 12, 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
Ten Capital Market Themes for 2014 by Raiffeisenbank
Leading indicators show a recovery of global growth.
December 11, 2013
Slovakia Reverts Fiscal Strategy
The Slovak parliament has approved the government-authored corporate tax rate cut from 23% to 22%. Further cuts are expected to come.
December 10, 2013
EU/CESEE: Real Income Shrinks
In 2013, the real income will do down in Austria. Since 2010, the Austrian real income was down by 1.3%. In Hungary, real income fell by 15% in that period.
December 9, 2013
Slovakia: Economy Accelerates Slightly
In the third quarter of 2013, the Slovak GDP year-on-year growth was up to 0.9%, according to the Slovak Statistical Office.
December 8, 2013
UniCredit Bank Ukraine and Ukrsotsbank to be Merged
CEE Division completes additional steps in business refocusing.
December 3, 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
CESEE: Austrian Banks Face New Challenges
For Austrian banks, the assessment by the ECB may bring new difficulties. Non-performing loans in CESEE are said to be higher than officially known.
November 26, 2013
WKO: Better Framework Conditions for SMEs
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), with between 10 to 249 persons employed, are a driver of the European economy, creating jobs and contributing to economic growth. WKO calls for better framework conditions for SMEs.
November 26, 2013
Slovakia Benefits Substantially from EU
In the next fiscal term from 2014 to 2020, Slovakia will receive net contributions of € 14bn. Without the EU contributions, Slovakia´s fiscal situation would be difficult.
November 23, 2013
Slovak Real Estate Market: Office Segment Weakens
In the third quarter of 2013, transactions in the office market were down substantially.
November 20, 2013
Austria: High Tax Country
According to the new tax report of PrinceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the tax burden in Austria is ten percent higher than the average tax rate in the European Union and even beats Sweden.
November 19, 2013
Slovakia: Weak Credit Demand
Due to the lack of credit demand, lending is below its potential. Foreign banks in Slovakia are relatively independent from their parents.
November 9, 2013
Slovakia: Property Prices on the Fall
The Slovak property market continues the downward trend. In late summer, property prices have reached a five-year low.
November 8, 2013
Unequal Retail Real Estate Investment Activity in CESEE
While investments in retail real estate in Bulgaria see an upturn, those in Romania have dropped immensely by more than 50 percent.
November 8, 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
Slovakia Imposes Tax on Tax Evasion
In order to reduce the capital outflow, Slovakia imposes a 35% tax rate on transactions to tax havens.
November 4, 2013
Slovakia: Exports Are Key Driver for Growth
Last year, Slovak exports were up by 9.4%. The main export products are automotive products and electronics. Germany is Slovakia´s main trade partner.
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
Visegrad Countries Encourage Western Balkans to Join EU
Representatives from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary support the EU accession of Western Balkan countries.
October 31, 2013
Slovakia: Economic Sentiment Up Slightly
According to the results published by the Slovak Statistical Office, the economic sentiment indicator indicates a moderate economic upward trend.
October 29, 2013
CESEE: Poland is Most Business-Friendly
According to the latest “Doing Business” report published by the World Bank, Poland is the most business-friendly country in the CESEE region.
October 29, 2013
Czech Republic: Social Democrats to Win
Tomorrow, the Czech Republic will hold early elections. All polls are indicating a clear change in power. Bohuslav Sobotka is expected to become the next head of government.
October 25, 2013
Public Debt: CESEE Countries Below EU Average
At the end of the first half of 2013, the EU public debt quota reached 86.8% of GDP. Western Europe´s public debt level is significantly higher than in Eastern Europe.
October 23, 2013
Slovakia: New Burden for Insurance Industry
The Slovak government extends special taxes for companies operating regulated sectors. The bank tax will be abolished in the course of the next years.
October 21, 2013
IMF Warns of Financial Instability in CESEE
Due to the high non-performing loan quota and the deleveraging of Western banks, the countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are still far from financial stability.
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
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
Moody’s: Poland Threatened by Outflow of Foreign Funds
Rating agency Moody’s evaluates the country being moderately exposed to the risk of foreign outflows.
October 14, 2013