Hungaryʼs government has discussed a ban on skyscrapers in Budapest to preserve the traditional profile of the capital. However, the ban would not apply to the planned office building of national oil and gas company MOL.

The Government Debt Management Agency (ÁKK) sold HUF 50 billion of discount three-month T-bills at auction on Tuesday, HUF 10 bln over its original offer of HUF 40 bln.   

Forint liquidity of Hungaryʼs banking sector narrowed in July from a month earlier, which was mainly reflected in a decrease in the average stock of one-day deposits, the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) said in a report based on preliminary data on Monday.   

In June 2018, the volume of industrial output in Hungary grew by 4.2% year-on-year, according to a second estimate of data by the Central Statistical Office (KSH), confirming the headline figure released on August 8. Based on working day-adjusted data, production rose by 3.1%.

Real estate developer and investment company Wing Zrt. announced on Friday the sale of the MOM Park shopping mall and office property building complex in Buda. The value of the transaction has not been disclosed.

First-half net profit of Graphisoft Park, a listed company that owns and operates a business park in the north of the capital, climbed 26% year-on-year to over EUR 2.3 million, according to "pro forma" figures, an earnings report shows.

Lake Balaton continues to lead in terms of the most expensive waterfront holiday homes in Hungary, with an average price per square meter above HUF 270,000 in 2017, a recent study shows.

St. Stephenʼs Day on August 20, the celebration to mark the foundation of Hungary by its first Christian king, is celebrated each year with a spectacular fireworks display in the evening over the Danube in Budapest. This yearʼs edition will cost HUF 222 million, news portal 24.hu has learned.

Technological developments, digitalization and automation will significantly change the commercial real estate market, and players need to start preparing for this, says a study released by Deloitte.

Gross salaries rose on average by HUF 30,000-40,000 in May year-on-year, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) reported, cited by pro-government daily Magyar Idők. The highest raises were in the sector of public administration.

The volume of construction output was 28.2% higher in June 2018 than a year earlier based on raw data. Output increased in both main groups of construction; by 15.2% in the construction of buildings, and by 48.8% in civil engineering works. Based on seasonally and working day-adjusted indices, output rose by 7.2% in June compared to the previous month.

Austriaʼs Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) booked first-half after-tax profit of EUR 26 million at its business in Hungary, down 61% from the first half of 2017 as the release of provisions was lower, an earnings report released Thursday shows.   

Passenger numbers at Debrecen Airport (eastern Hungary) reached a monthly record of more than 45,000 in July, up 22% from the same month of last year. Meanwhile, the city of Debrecen is installing public digital displays offering tourist information.

In euro terms, exports grew by 8.9% and imports by 8.4% in June 2018 compared to the same month of the previous year, according to a first estimate of data for the external trade in goods from the Central Statistical Office (KSH). The trade surplus was up by EUR 119 million year-on-year.

Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair has canceled three Budapest flights this Friday because of a strike by pilots. The airline has canceled its morning flights to Berlin and Nuremberg, as well as its evening flight to Brussels South Charleroi Airport.

The Government Debt Management Agency (ÁKK) sold a combined HUF 34.5 billion of securities at auction on Thursday, cutting its original offer by HUF 1.5 bln, state news wire MTI reported.

Magyar Telekomʼs second-quarter consolidated group net income amounted to HUF 14.5 billion, according to international accounting standards, up 40.6% from the corresponding period a year earlier, an earnings report published late Wednesday shows.

In June 2018, the number of nights spent by international tourists decreased by 1.0%, while nights spent by domestic tourists increased by 0.2% compared to a year earlier, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) reported Thursday. Bad weather contributed to the low figures, as well as the absence of a long weekend in June.

Hungary’s Ministry for Innovation and Technology has signed a four-year partnership agreement with German engineering firm Siemens to launch a pilot program in preparation for a reform of the vocational training system and the introduction of dual education.

The GKI real estate index and the Budapest index rose in July both in year-on-year terms and compared to the previous quarter. The indices have reached their historic peaks, indicating that real estate market players have never been so optimistic.