Finance

Debt

Croatia’s gross foreign debt down in October

Croatia's gross foreign debt edged down by 0.9% on a monthly comparison basis in October, to EUR 40.8 billion, preliminary...

Banking

Romanian central bank FX reserves edge up in Jan

The foreign exchange (FX) reserves held by Romania's central bank, excluding gold, totaled EUR 37.454 billion at the end of...

MNB

Stock of prenatal baby support loans surpasses HUF 1.064 tln

Hungarian lenders' stock of prenatal baby support loans reached HUF 1.0645 tln at the end of December, up about HUF...

MNB

MNB starts buying bonds under 10 years in QE program

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) bought HUF 55 billion of securities in the framework of a quantitative easing program...

Banking

Romania’s annual bank deposits growth slows down in Dec

The deposits of the non-governmental sector in Romanian banks grew 14.4% year-on-year to RON 420.79 billion (EUR 86.32 billion) in...

Banking

Eximbank lending stock reaches HUF 1.1 tln

Magyar Eximbank's loan book reached more than HUF 1.1 trillion at the end of 2020, chairman-CEO Gergely Jákli said in...

MNB

Monetary Council leaves base rate at 0.6%

The Monetary Council of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) decided to leave the central bank base rate unchanged, at...

Debt

ÁKK sells HUF 60 bln of bonds at switch auction

The Government Debt Management Agency (ÁKK) sold HUF 60 billion of bonds maturing in 2027 and 2029, accepting ones expiring...

Trade

Chinese container trains arriving via Záhony up 10-fold 

The number of Chinese container trains arriving in Hungary via Záhony (300 km northeast of Budapest) increased almost 10-fold last...

Trade

Kosovo trade gap shrinks in 2020

Kosovo's trade deficit decreased by 9.4% year-on-year to EUR 2.8 billion (USD 3.4 billion) in 2020, the country's statistical office...

Debt

Slovakia c/a deficit decreases in November

Slovakia's current account deficit tightened to EUR 106.5 million in November 2020, from EUR 236.53 million in the previous year,...

Debt

ÁKK sells HUF 15 bln of 3-month T-bills at auction, as planned

The Government Debt Management Agency (ÁKK) sold HUF 15 billion of discount three-month T-bills at auction on Tuesday, in line...

Ratings

S&P revises Slovakia’s outlook to stable

S&P Global Ratings changed Slovakia's sovereign credit rating outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the debt grade at 'A+',...

MNB

Central Bank releases guidelines for classification of loans under moratorium

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) has outlined in an executive circular detailed guidelines for the classification of loans under...

Banking

MNB accepts Budapest Bank for consumer-friendly personal loan qualification

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) has accepted Budapest Bank's Qualified Consumer-Friendly Personal Loan application, according to which the bank...

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...