Austrian Traffic Club claims fine-dust pollution is higher than ever

Categories
General News

The Austrian Traffic Club (VCÖ) warned today (Fri) that fine-dust pollution in Austria is higher than ever.It said pollution levels were highest in Vienna but also too high in Wiener Neudorf, Graz, Salzburg, Linz and Hall in Tirol.The club noted that 25 measurements exceeding acceptable levels were permissible annually but added there had already been […]

ÖBB would benefit from higher car fuel tax, says Kern

Categories
Business

Federal Railways (ÖBB) head Christian Kern has claimed that higher mineral oil taxes would be an immense help in the firm’s bid to sell more tickets.The businessman, who previously worked for electricity provider Verbund, told the Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper today (Thurs) he was convinced more people would switch to trains if car fuel taxes were […]

VIG to enter Montenegro

Categories
Business

Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) has been granted a concession to offer life insurances in Montenegro.The company said today (Weds) the decision meant it was now active in 24 European countries.VIG, which is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange (WBAG), explained its subsidiary Wiener Städtische zivotno osiguranje Podgorica a.d. will handle operations in the former Yugoslav […]

Spar Austria reports turnover increase

Categories
Business

Spar Austria’s turnover edged up year on year in the first six months of 2010, it has been announced.The company announced today (Mon) net turnover rose from 2.35 to 2.44 billion Euros, adding that earnings before interest and taxes (Ebit) improved from 36 to 39 million Euros.Spar Austria also said earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation […]

Austrian oil firms ‘ignore global market rates’

Categories
Business

Austrian petrol firms pointing the finger at international trade developments are red-faced over revelations that they were behind soaring prices.The Federal Austrian Competition Authority (BWB) announced today (Fri) that domestic oil companies did not consider global price levels when it came to establishing the prices of diesel and regular fuel at petrol stations.BWB boss Theodor […]

T-Mobile turnover shrinks despite more clients

Categories
Business

T-Mobile Austria suffered a decline in turnover in spite of more customers in the first half of this year.The company – the second-biggest mobile services provider in Austria after Mobilkom Austria – said today (Thurs) that turnover edged down by 5.9 per cent between January and June of 2010 compared to the same time span […]

Kaltenegger wipes away land tax calls

Categories
Politics

People’s Party (ÖVP) general secretary Fritz Kaltenegger has ruled out higher real estate taxes as the budget debate intensifies.Kaltenegger said today (Fri) his party opposed an increase of land tax from next year. His pledge comes days after several economists and the ÖVP’s coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPÖ), called for an open discussion over […]

Wolford finds things less tight as earnings soar

Categories
Business

Vorarlberg textiles producer Wolford has managed to double its earnings year on year, it has emerged.Company officials said today (Fri) earnings before interest and taxes (Ebit) soared from 2.18 million Euros in the 2008/2009 business year to 4.5 million Euros in the past business year.They added that Wolford, which is headquartered in Bregenz, had now […]

SPÖ and ÖVP go head to head in Styria

Categories
Politics

A hot political summer is ahead as research shows the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) are neck-and-neck in Styria.People in the central province head to the polls on 26 September and SPÖ Governor Franz Voves made clear he will step down as leader of the Styrian Social Democrats if ÖVP Deputy Governor […]

Budget petrol station businessman eyes Vienna, reports say

Categories
Business

Alarm bells are ringing at petrol stations across Vienna as a canny Salzburg businessman is reported to have plans to open a budget station later this month.Business dailies report today (Thurs) Markus Friesacher considered taking his Salzburg success story to the federal capital. The entrepreneur’s Hofer stations caused a stir – and kilometre-long tailbacks – […]