David Landry

Construction

July construction output down from June, up from 2012

Despite at least one major news outlet’s assessment that the Hungarian “construction sector output screech[ed] to a halt” in July...

Deals

INA problems “can be sorted”, “common ground” sought

MOL supervisory board chairman György Mosonyi gave an interview to Reuters on Friday that’s currently making the rounds in Hungarian...

Competition

UN group: Hungary drops in well-being index

In the leadup to the United Nations General Assembly meeting of heads of state beginning next Monday, UN global initiative...

Visits

BBJ’s stories of the week, September 7-13

It’s Friday, another ending of a news cycle – and so, before BBJ takes off for the weekend, it’s one...

Interview

Croatian government: MOL’s threat taken very seriously

Yesterday, BBJ reported that Hungary-based oil-and-gas giant MOL had raised the stakes in the company’s ongoing battle with the Croatian...

In Hungary

Dental Tourism Development clinics turnover up 19%

Over the past 12 months, dental clinics participating in the government’s Dental Tourism Development (MFTF) program have shown an overall...

Issues

Hungary in breach of EU money laundering law?

The so-called “stability savings account” meant to bring home wealth stored in offshore accounts and also to lure savings from...

Issues

Report: MOL planning €264 million lawsuit against Croatia

In the ongoing tussle between MOL and the Croatian government over majority ownership of Croatia-based INA, Hungary’s oil-and-gas giant has...

History

Patai: Political elite have taken over from financial elite

Power has shifted globally to the political elite from the financial elite, and the creativity of “our autocratic government” is...

Figures

Central Statistics Office: August inflation rate 1.3%

A report from the Central Statistics Office (KSH) today shows that consumer prices were up 1.3% year-on-year for August 2013,...

Initiatives

MBSz Chairman: FX-loan relief plan will harm forint

As the week rolls on, Hungary’s politicos and banking interests get back to work on addressing forex-based loan issues....

Awards

Football news: Hungary wins 5-1, bid for 2020 Cup announced

Don’t look now, but a strange outbreak of news on Hungarian football/soccer is seeping into the headlines this week......

EU

Visegrád Four: EU must support biofuel industry

From a meeting of agricultural sector leaders from the Visegrád Four (V4) nations (Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia) came a...

Sights

Dunaferr layoffs suspended pending further talks

Representatives from ISD Dunaferr and the National Economy Ministry met yesterday for a brief meeting to discuss the possibility of...

Telco

EP passes new online gambling resolution

Though a bill passed by the Hungarian parliament in late June which lays the groundwork for online gaming regulation and...

Visits

Hungary: Loving it, leaving it

When I first came here, local folks mostly asked me “Why Hungary?” Now when I tell them I’m leaving, they...

Int'l Relations

Szijjártó declares end of classic diplomacy

Perhaps gearing up for the rumored merging of foreign trade and foreign affairs ministries in a new government composition to...

Party Popularity

EP election: Fidesz, Jobbik tops on low voter turnout

Cruising to a landslide victory in which the governing Fidesz-KDNP coalition garnered 51.5% of the vote, opposition party MSzP and...

Deals

Ablon rechristened as CPI Hungary

Due to the takeover of its Hungarian operations by Czech Republic-based CPI Group in mid-2013, real estate firm Ablon has...

MNB

Debt rises to all-time high, government spins figure

Hungary’s gross consolidated government sector debt, calculated at nominal value, in line with the Maastricht methodology, rose to HUF 24.904...

MNB

Debt rises to all-time high, government spins figure

Hungary’s gross consolidated government sector debt, calculated at nominal value, in line with the Maastricht methodology, rose to HUF 24.904...

World

Dep. CEO: OTP Bank will not withdraw from E. Ukraine

Following the release of OTP Bank’s first quarter earnings report showing disappointing results due in large part to heavy losses...

MNB

Inflation rate concerns Varga, MNB deputy governor

National Economy Minister Mihály Varga on Thursday said the economy is in “top form” and the country’s fiscal position is...

Int'l Relations

Oslo awaits response from Hungary on suspended grants

Talks between Hungary and Norway on the suspension of funding from the EEA and Norway Grants scheme are not underway...

Automotive

Industrial output in March up 10.6% y.o.y.

Figures released by the Central Statistics Office (KSH) today indicate that in March 2014, industrial gross output in Hungary increased...

Deals

MOL: Report on management of INA “shameful”

Oil-and-gas giant MOL termed “shameful” the report of advisory Oil and Gas Consulting to the government of Croatia on MOL’s...

Initiatives

Epson study considers trends in SME printing habits

A study commissioned by Epson Hungary and undertaken by KutatóCentrum sheds some light on trends in printing among local small-...

Initiatives

Orbán supports Poland plan for EU energy union

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was in Poland this week to meet with his counterpart Donald Tusk on various issues headlined...

Deals

Nine of 35 banks to contest National Bank fines

Nine lenders, among them Raiffeisen Bank, Erste Bank Hungary and FHB Commercial Bank, are contesting fines by the National Bank...

Pharma

Michelin to close Budapest plant due to “shrinking tire market”

Michelin Hungária today announced the planned closure of its plant in Budapest. Labeling the facility “outdated,” the plant will be...

Hungary: Loving it, leaving it

When I first came here, local folks mostly asked me “Why Hungary?” Now when I tell them I’m leaving, they...

Szijjártó declares end of classic diplomacy

Perhaps gearing up for the rumored merging of foreign trade and foreign affairs ministries in a new government composition to...

EP election: Fidesz, Jobbik tops on low voter turnout

Cruising to a landslide victory in which the governing Fidesz-KDNP coalition garnered 51.5% of the vote, opposition party MSzP and...

Ablon rechristened as CPI Hungary

Due to the takeover of its Hungarian operations by Czech Republic-based CPI Group in mid-2013, real estate firm Ablon has...

Debt rises to all-time high, government spins figure

Hungary’s gross consolidated government sector debt, calculated at nominal value, in line with the Maastricht methodology, rose to HUF 24.904...

Debt rises to all-time high, government spins figure

Hungary’s gross consolidated government sector debt, calculated at nominal value, in line with the Maastricht methodology, rose to HUF 24.904...

Dep. CEO: OTP Bank will not withdraw from E. Ukraine

Following the release of OTP Bank’s first quarter earnings report showing disappointing results due in large part to heavy losses...

Inflation rate concerns Varga, MNB deputy governor

National Economy Minister Mihály Varga on Thursday said the economy is in “top form” and the country’s fiscal position is...

Oslo awaits response from Hungary on suspended grants

Talks between Hungary and Norway on the suspension of funding from the EEA and Norway Grants scheme are not underway...

Industrial output in March up 10.6% y.o.y.

Figures released by the Central Statistics Office (KSH) today indicate that in March 2014, industrial gross output in Hungary increased...

MOL: Report on management of INA “shameful”

Oil-and-gas giant MOL termed “shameful” the report of advisory Oil and Gas Consulting to the government of Croatia on MOL’s...

Epson study considers trends in SME printing habits

A study commissioned by Epson Hungary and undertaken by KutatóCentrum sheds some light on trends in printing among local small-...

Orbán supports Poland plan for EU energy union

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was in Poland this week to meet with his counterpart Donald Tusk on various issues headlined...

Nine of 35 banks to contest National Bank fines

Nine lenders, among them Raiffeisen Bank, Erste Bank Hungary and FHB Commercial Bank, are contesting fines by the National Bank...

Michelin to close Budapest plant due to “shrinking tire market”

Michelin Hungária today announced the planned closure of its plant in Budapest. Labeling the facility “outdated,” the plant will be...