Finance

Trade

Croatia trade deficit widens in H1

Croatia's trade deficit widened to HRK 33.7 billion (EUR 4.5 billion) in the first half of 2021, compared with a...

Banking

Banking sector liquidity rises in July

Forint liquidity of Hungary's banking sector rose in July, reflected primarily by an increase in the average stock of lenders'...

Banking

Serbian c. bank FX reserves rise

The foreign exchange (FX) reserves held by Serbia's central bank rose to EUR 14.6 billion at the end of July,...

MNB

Monetary Council evaluating effects of rate hike cycles

The National Bank of Hungary's Monetary Council is to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of the cycle...

Trade

Romania trade deficit widens in June

Romania's trade deficit increased to EUR 1.843 billion in June from EUR 1.323 billion in the same month last year,...

MNB

MNB instructs lenders not to pay dividend till end of 2021

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) said on Thursday that it issued an executive circular to lenders instructing them not...

Trade

Slovenia trade surplus falls in H1

Slovenia recorded a trade surplus of EUR 210.6 million in the first half of 2021, lower than a surplus of...

Trade

Slovakia trade surplus decreases in June

Slovakia's trade surplus fell to EUR 296.7 million in June from EUR 831.1 million in the same month last year,...

Banking

Raiffeisen Bank signs deal to acquire Credit Agricole Serbia

Vienna-based Raiffeisen Bank International said its Serbian unit Raiffeisen Banka has signed an agreement to acquire the entire capital of...

Trade

Czech trade balance swing to deficit June

Czech trade balance registered a deficit of CZK 6.903 billion (EUR 271.7 million) in June versus a surplus of CZK...

MNB

MNB weekly QE purchases reach HUF 57 bln

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) bought HUF 57.1 billion of securities in the framework of a quantitative easing program...

MNB

Matolcsy urges structural changes to government

National Bank of Hungary (MNB) governor György Matolcsy on Monday said that significant institutional changes will be required in the...

Debt

Stimulus lifts gen gov’t deficit to HUF 1.804 tln in July

Hungary's cash flow-based general government deficit, excluding local councils, reached HUF 1.804 tln at the end of July, widening on...

Debt

Serbia H1 budget deficit down on year 

Serbia's budget recorded a deficit of RSD 75.5 billion (EUR 642 million) in the first half of 2021, compared to...

Trade

N. Macedonia’s H1 trade gap widens

North Macedonia's trade deficit rose to a total of MKD 76 billion (EUR 1.2 billion) in the first half of...

Banking

OTP Says Exposure Limited as Paraguay’s Ueno Bank Enters Insolvency

OTP Bank said its USD 47 million investment in Paraguay’s Ueno Bank represents a small exposure for the Hungarian lender...

Ratings

Fitch Sees Hungary’s Deficit Narrowing but Debt Burden Rising

Hungary’s budget deficit is expected to narrow and growth to accelerate in 2027, but rising debt and fiscal vulnerabilities continue...

MNB

MNB Cites Global Uncertainty Behind September Rate Hold

Global economic uncertainty constrained Hungary’s monetary policy room for maneuver, the National Bank of Hungary’s (MNB) Monetary Council agreed at...

OTP Says Exposure Limited as Paraguay’s Ueno Bank Enters Insolvency

OTP Bank said its USD 47 million investment in Paraguay’s Ueno Bank represents a small exposure for the Hungarian lender...

What Happens Next to What We’ve Built? New Challenges in Family Wealth Planning

Building a successful family business takes decades of work, but its future also depends on how carefully the transfer of...

Hungarian Banks Seek Gradual Reduction in 45% Effective Tax Burden

Hungarian banks hope for a “slow but certain” reduction in their tax burden, Hungarian Banking Association President Radovan Jelasity said...

MNB Probe Widens as International Arrest Warrant Issued for Ádám Matolcsy

International arrest warrants have been issued for Ádám Matolcsy, son of former Hungarian central bank Governor György Matolcsy, and businessman...

MNB Holds Base Rate at 5.5%, Maintains Symmetric Interest Rate Corridor

The Monetary Council of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) left the base rate unchanged at 5.5% at its monthly...

Gránit Bank Hit by Largest Loan Loss Provision in Its History

Gránit Bank reported an additional approximately HUF 9.4 billion loan loss provision in the third quarter of 2026, the largest...

Fitch Sees Hungary’s Deficit Narrowing but Debt Burden Rising

Hungary’s budget deficit is expected to narrow and growth to accelerate in 2027, but rising debt and fiscal vulnerabilities continue...

MNB Cites Global Uncertainty Behind September Rate Hold

Global economic uncertainty constrained Hungary’s monetary policy room for maneuver, the National Bank of Hungary’s (MNB) Monetary Council agreed at...

MNB International Reserves Fall to EUR 62.1 bln in September

The National Bank of Hungary’s (MNB) international reserves stood at EUR 62.061 bln at the end of September, down EUR...

K&H Bank and Mastercard Extend Strategic Partnership Through 2030

K&H Bank and Mastercard have extended their exclusive strategic partnership through 2030, with plans to expand personalized digital financial services...

OTP Forecasts Hungary’s GDP Growth at 1.7% in 2026, 2.5% in 2027

Hungary’s economy could expand by 1.7% this year and 2.5% in 2027, with household consumption driving growth in 2026, according...

Hungary Posts EUR 481 mln Trade Deficit as Import Volumes Jump 13%

Hungary recorded a EUR 481 million goods trade deficit in August as import volumes rose 13% year-on-year while export volumes...

Bayer Construct Gets Default Ratings After Bankruptcy Protection Filing

Scope Ratings has assigned default ratings to Bayer Construct following its bankruptcy protection filing, citing financial pressure linked partly to...

Former Central Bank Governor Matolcsy Questioned as Suspect in Erste Case

Police have questioned seven suspects, including former National Bank of Hungary Governor György Matolcsy, in an investigation into alleged abuse...

MNB to Lower Inflation Target to 2.5% From 2028, Holds Base Rate at 5.5%

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) will lower its inflation target to 2.5% from Jan. 1, 2028, while retaining its...