BA chief says Basel III may scare off investors

Categories
Finance

Bank Austria (BA) CEO Willibald Cernko has warned tougher rules and new taxes could make it more difficult for banks to find investors.The former HypoVereinsbank manager said today (Weds): “I think the debate over investors should have an Austrian background or come from abroad is totally misleading. The decisive question will be whether we (the […]

Car theft figures dwindle

Categories
General News

A sharp decline in car theft numbers has been reported.The Federal Crime Office (BK) announced today (Weds) 1,915 cars were stolen in the first nine months of this year, down from 3,982 incidents in the same period of 2009.The BK also said the number of car break-ins declined from 16,645 to 13,272 year on year […]

Nearly one in two in upbeat mood about 2011

Categories
Lifestyle

Almost 50 per cent of Austrians are optimistic regarding the new year, according to a survey.Pollster IMAS said today (Weds) 47 per cent of interviewed Austrians said they were looking forward to 2011. This share resembles figures of the agency’s poll at the same time last year, but does not match figures published in December […]

Police up ski theft focus

Categories
General News

More than a dozen police officers from Carinthia are currently supporting their colleagues in Tyrol to fight the growing number of ski thefts.There were 2,724 reported cases of ski thefts in Tyrol last year, up by 13.2 per cent compared to 2008. Figures also increased in five other of Austria’s overall nine provinces year on […]

Thousands of lorries banned this year

Categories
General News

More than 6,000 trucks were banned from Austrian roads so far this year, according to the federal traffic ministry.The ministry, which is headed by Social Democrat (SPÖ) Doris Bures, announced today (Tues) its Federal Traffic Authority (BAV) stopped and examined 27,600 lorries of all types and sizes since last January. It added 6,100 of them […]

Illicit work thriving in Austria

Categories
Business

One in four Austrian companies employ unregistered staff, according to a report.The Kronen Zeitung newspaper quotes secret documents today (Tues), claiming that around 25 per cent of checked firms were found employing illegal workers. The daily newspaper reports that more than 11,200 of the overall 67,000 staff at investigated businesses between January and November 2011 […]

Champagne price outlook unlikely to sparkle on customers´ tongues

Categories
Business

Wine and champagne will become up to 15 per cent more expensive next year, a branch representative has warned.Gerhard Wohlmuth of the wine and spirits trade department at the Federal Economy Chamber (WKO) said yesterday (Mon) customers must brace for a five to 15 per cent increase of prices for wine and champagne next year […]

Many young Austrians plan to fork out more on holidays

Categories
Business

Almost one in three young Austrians plan to spend more on their holidays next year, a poll has shown.Insurance agency Generali, which spoke to around 1,000 Austrians, announced today (Tues) that 26 per cent of Austrians aged 30 or younger will increase their holiday budget in 2011 compared to investments on vacations this year.Only 19 […]

Household energy prices continue to climb

Categories
Business

Austrians had to fork out almost six per cent more on household energy in November than in the same month of last year.The Austrian Energy Agency announced today (Mon) households had to spend 5.8 per cent more on gas, electricity and other products and services last month compared year on year. The authority added it […]

Verbund chairman rules out price reduction

Categories
Business

Verbund AG boss Wolfgang Anzengruber has said he does not expect energy prices to decline in the foreseeable future.The businessman said today (Mon): “I don’t see chances for any changes at the moment. Energy trading prices were low recently, but are currently edging up again.”Verbund angered consumer representatives in May by raising the price for […]