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Slovenia
„We Can Exclude a Bankruptcy of Hypo Group”
Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) and Klaus Liebscher, head of Hypo Group´s supervisory board argue that the nationalized bank will be downsized according to plan.
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
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
Dispute about NLB Reignites between Slovenia and Croatia
Damaged savers of NLB filed lawsuit against the bank at the European Court for Human Rights.
November 26, 2013
Wide Parts of CESEE Region Below Pre-Crisis Level
In terms of economic output, a large number of CESEE countries have not reached the level of 2008 yet. The growth outlook remains cautious.
November 25, 2013
Slovenia: Stress Tests Result Published on December 13
Bostjan Jazbec, governor of the Slovenian National Bank (SNB), is optimistic that no Slovenian bank will have to be liquidated.
November 23, 2013
Slovenia: Economic Growth Expected to Speed up Next Year
Economic growth is expected to accelerate next year.
November 22, 2013
Slovenia Looking for New Economy Minister
According to media reports, Prime Minister Bratusek is supposed to have shortlisted three potential candidates for the position.
November 22, 2013
Pressure on Slovenia Dampens
After Slovenia´s governing coalition has won the vote of confidence, the yield on Slovenian sovereign bonds is going down slightly.
November 22, 2013
Slovenia: Share of NPLs Increasing Dangerously
The share of non-performing loans (NPL) in the Slovenian banking sector has increased to 17.4 percent. Losses of the country’s financial institutes are significantly worse on a year-on-year comparison.
November 21, 2013
RBI: Fresh Money for Slovenian Subsidiary
Raiffeisen Bank International, the third biggest lender in CESEE, injects € 10m into the Slovenian subsidiary.
November 21, 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
Slovenia Issues New Eurobonds
The issuance of a new bond in the amount of € 1.5bn on Friday came as surprise as Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek has annouced earlier no such measures will be made until the beginning of the new year.
November 18, 2013
Construction Industry Remains Weak Point of Slovenian Industrial Sector
Slovenia´s industrial sector records a decline in employment and investments. Despite the economic downward trend, the energy sector achieves growing turnover figures.
November 16, 2013
Slovenia: Net Earnings Under Pressure
The decrease in monthly net earnings goes in line with the unfavorable economic frame conditions.
November 15, 2013
Slovenian Government Wins Vote of Confidence
As expected, on Friday the Slovenian center-left government of Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek has won a vote of confidence.
November 15, 2013
EU Commission: Slovenia Makes “Key Progress”
Slovenia is among 16 EU member states that require comprehensive assessment of macroeconomic imbalances. According to a report published by the EU Commission, the small country shows significant improvement.
November 14, 2013
Slovenia Creates Major Bad Bank
In order to reduce the burden on the banking sector, Slovenia´s government wants to shift risky assets to a special purpose vehicle.
November 13, 2013
Crucial Days for Slovenia´s Government
Slovenia´s government has presented the 2014 budget to the Parliament. Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek has linked the approval to a vote of confidence. However, the budget approval is not the biggest risk factor for the ailing country.
November 13, 2013
Half of Austrians Consider the Country Stuck in Recession
According to an online survey, the Austrians are confident and not concerned by the most recent recession in the Eurozone. With a total of 87 index points consumer’s confidence remained stable in the third quarter of 2013.
November 12, 2013
Triglav: No Expansion in Croatia
The biggest Slovenian insurance company planned to increase its stake in Croatia Osiguranje. Croatia´s government rejected Triglav´s offer.
November 11, 2013
Hypo Group: Urgent Need for Fresh Money
The ailing nationalized bank Austrian Hypo Group Alpe Adria has a capital shortfall of € 1.3bn. The gap must be closed before the end of the year.
November 11, 2013
Slovenia: Domestic Banks Dominate the Market
According to the EBRD, Slovenia´s banking industry is faced with a declining credit demand. A lack in funding has become less acute.
November 9, 2013
Slovenia: Ten Banks under Stress Test
In addition to the country’s three major banks, NLB, NKBM and Abanka Vipa, seven other banks are concerned by the bank stress test.
November 7, 2013
Slovenia Liquidates Two Banks
The Slovenian National Bank has approved a plan for the liquidation of Factor banka and Probanka. The capital shortfall will reach about 400m, according to estimations.
November 7, 2013
Slovenia: Banking Act Rejected by Parliament
The Slovenian parliament has disapproved of the banking act which planned to introduce bail-in rules throughout the European Union.
November 6, 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
Slovenia: Petition Against Real Estate Tax Initiated
On Monday, a petition against the planned real estate tax was initiated. In an attempt to reduce the massive fiscal shortfall, Slovenia is looking for new revenues. The property tax is supposed to bring about more than € 400m.
November 5, 2013
Slovenia: Highest Contribution of GDP to ESM
As reported by Slovenia Times, the country has spent 2.8 percent of GDP for the Euro Stability Mechanism (ESM) last year.
November 4, 2013
Slovenia´s Government Hopes for More FDI
In order to promote more foreign direct investments, Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek plans to hold investment conferences across Europe.
November 1, 2013
Slovenia: Banking Act Approved
The Slovenian Parliament has voted for an amendment of the banking act. It is still unclear whether Slovenia is able to recapitalize the banking sector sufficiently.
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
Slovenia on Top of Prosperous Countries in Emerging Europe
Slovenia is leading the list of prosperous countries in Emerging Europe. Bulgaria is on the last position.
October 30, 2013
Slovenia: Parliament Approves Amendmends to Banking Act
Measures were taken to reduce costs for winding up of two small Slovenian banks.
October 30, 2013
IMF on Slovenia: “Cleaning Up Banks is the Priority”
The IMF urges Slovenia to restructure its ailing banking sector. Slovenia faces expensive bank aid-programs.
October 29, 2013
Banking Sector: Pressure on Slovenia Grows
The IMF calls Slovenia to re-capitalize the banking sector immediately. However, Slovenia´s financial situation is already more than tense.
October 29, 2013
Slovenia: Significant Decline in Business Confidence
Sentiment indicator lower than in the previous month In October 2013 (-13 percentage points) the sentiment indicator was 1 percentage point lower than in September 2013 (-12 percentage points).
October 28, 2013
Slovenia: Bailout Comes Closer
The ailing country is not expected to manage the financial crisis on its own. Calling for support from Brussels seems to be the last remaining alternative.
October 28, 2013
Hypo Group to Create Bad Bank
After months of considerations, the Austrian government will decide for the bad bank. The nationalized banking group will be a major burden for the state.
October 26, 2013
Bank Asset Review: Slovenia´s Government Satisfied
According to Slovenia´s Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek, Slovenia´s government has received full support for the bank asset review. ECB´s point of view is more critical, however.
October 26, 2013
Hypo Group: Worst Expectations May be Exceeded
For the Austrian state, the ailing nationalized banking group may become a financial GSA. The legal dispute with the former owner BayernLB bears enormous dangers for Austria´s public finance.
October 25, 2013
Slovenia: NPC Increase to Above 17 Percent
The percentage of NPCs increased from 16.3 percent in June to 17.1 percent in July 2013.
October 25, 2013
Telekom Austria: Massive Capital Increase Ahead
In order to implement its expansion strategy, the Austrian telecommunication group will carry out a capital increase next year. In total, the capital requirement comes at € 1.0bn.
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
Slovenia: Govenor of National Bank demands “Change of Mentality”
At a lecture planned by the Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES), Bostjan Jazbec, govenor of Banka Slovenije, pointed out that the country could only blame itself for the current state it was in.
October 23, 2013
Slovenia: Real Estate Tax Wobbles
The ruling parties could not agree on a common standpoint yet. The controversial real estate tax may fail.
October 22, 2013
Slovenia: Banka Sparkasse Provided with Loan by EIB
EIB continues to support SME and mid-cap projects in Slovenia.
October 22, 2013
EBRD Analyzes Slovenia´s Difficulties
From October 21 to 25, a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will visit the ailing country.
October 21, 2013
Slovenia: Massive Concerns Against Real Estate Tax
The Slovenian government plans to introduce property taxes in order to reduce the budget deficit. The opposition warns that the tax may be “highly counterproductive”.
October 18, 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