Hypo Group Alpe Adria (HGAA) has made a profit for the first time in four years. The struggling finance institute – which had to be nationalized in December 2009 – said it managed to make profits of 59 million Euros last year. The Klagenfurt-based bank headed by Gottwald Kranebitter sustained a loss of more than […]
Mario Scheiber has announced his resignation from professional skiing. The 29-year-old from East Tyrol – who looks back on doomed, injury-stricken years – said yesterday (Mon) that his right knee had failed to recover in the past weeks but got worse instead. Scheiber, who did not disclose his plans for the future, came fourth in […]
Austrian Airlines (AUA) has decided to jack up ticket prices – only two months after the most recent increase. The struggling carrier, which suffered a loss of 65 million Euros in each of the past two years, said yesterday (Weds) its kerosene surcharge would increase as of next Tuesday (28 February). The airline explained that […]
Austrian wine is proving increasingly in the world wine market. On the International Wine-Growers Day in Großriedenthal, Austria, this week hundreds of producers gathered to discuss further export opportunities, particularly in East Asia. Despite a low yield throughout the course of the year the last two years have seen record exports of wine from Austria […]
Bank Austria (BA) CEO Willibald Cernko has warned from letting Greece go bust. Cernko said at the weekend Europe “should consider very well whether it would be a good idea to dismiss a country from the Eurozone.” The banker claimed such a move “would put the European project into question.” The BA chief warned that […]
Viennese Social Democratic (SPÖ) Financial Affairs Councillor Renate Brauner has stressed that “immense challenges” are ahead for the city. Brauner told the Kurier today (Fri) that the Viennese SPÖ-Greens coalition would try to avoid a decrease of service quality to citizens despite the need to save one billion Euros in the coming five years. Brauner […]
Richard Lugner has praised Brigitte Nielsen as the “nicest Opera Ball guest I have ever had.” The Danish model and actress accepted the 79-year-old Viennese businessman’s invitation to this year’s Viennese State Opera Ball. Around 5,000 people will attend the glamorous event tonight (Thurs). TV channel ORF will screen all the action from the red […]
Russia’s leading bank has managed to significantly lower the price it pays for the international operations group of Austria’s biggest banks. Sberbank bosses agreed with Volksbank AG (ÖVAG) managers to transfer 505 million Euros for all federal branches of Volksbank International (VBI) except its ailing Romanian department. Contracts sealing the takeover were signed in Vienna […]
Austria’s oldest citizen has died aged 111. Hermine Nistler was born on 24 December 1900 in Favoriten in Vienna and had up until her death lived a long and healthy life. The first few years of Hermine’s life were far from easy however. When she was just eight years old, she lost both of her […]
A leading Social Democrat (SPÖ) has rejected the People’s Party’s (ÖVP) latest suggestions to economise. ÖVP boss Michael Spindelegger said yesterday (Thurs) that the state could save “more than 10 billion Euros” altogether by 2016 by reducing certain investments. Spindelegger made clear that the agricultural sector would not be spared from austerity measures. However, the […]