Latest Updates

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the biggest grain exporter of them all?

The race is on between Ukraine and Russia for the title of “world’s biggest grain exporter” and the two rivals are running neck and neck.

Read Story

BRICKS & MORTAR: Russian real estate market getting back on its feet

Russia’s real estate market is back in play after investment rose by 30% y/y in the first quarter of this year, reports JLL – the best result in the last three years.

Read Story

VOX: Moldova's banking sector turns the corner

Following the shock of the $1bn stolen from the banking sector in 2014 the government has got its act together and is transforming the business, with some help from the EBRD.

Read Story

Political fighting intensifies in Poland as film documenting Catholic clergy's abuse of kids goes viral to millions

The film’s skyrocketing popularity has forced political leaders take positions on the issue as the campaign for the European Parliament elections heats up.

Read Story

War, huh… What is it good for?

Trump and Iran’s Khamenei were on May 14 among many taking on the question of whether a military showdown between the US and the Islamic Republic is on the cards.

Read Story

COMMENT: Russia's controversial sovereign internet bill will stoke the very protests it is designed to quell

Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 1 signed the controversial sovereign internet bill into law. It will come into force November 1 despite the concern, confusion and even ridicule on show during its State Duma readings.

Read Story

COMMENT: Technology can reduce the global plastic pollution problem

Annual global production of plastics has increased dramatically, from 15mn metric tons in 1964 to over 350mn metric tons now, however, a new technology can break down polymers and effectively recycle them

Read Story

MOSCOW BLOG: Can Russia halve its poverty level?

President Putin unveiled a very ambitious reform plan during his state of the nation speech on March 1 last year. Among the ambitious goals — some say unattainable goals — the president called for a drastic reduction in poverty.

Read Story

Poland overtakes Russia to become Ukraine’s biggest trade partner in February

Russia has long been Ukraine’s main trade partner, but relations have crumbled since the annexation of the Crimea in 2014 and trade has fallen thanks to numerous embargoes as the two countries are fighting an undeclared war.

Read Story

Czech energy company Sev.en to acquire Swiss Alpiq Generation for €7.2bn

Far-right politicians from CEE join pre-election rally in Milan

The booms in Hungary and Romania won’t last

Czech energy company Sev.en to acquire Swiss Alpiq Generation for €7.2bn

Sev.en Energy won tender to buy the operator of CHP plants in Kladno a Zlin after it announced an ambitious programme of international expansion.

Far-right politicians from CEE join pre-election rally in Milan

Representatives of far-right parties from Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia and Slovakia joined a rally in Milan led by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini days before Thursday’s European Parliament elections.

The booms in Hungary and Romania won’t last

Hungary and Romania posted growth of over 5% for 1Q19, however, says a report from wiiw, the ongoing booms in the two countries are based on temporary factors and are not expected to last.

News

Garanti latest Turkish bank to renew syndicated loan at higher costs, lower roll-over ratio

Despite Turkey’s economic strife, local lenders’ spring loan refinancing season is progressing undeterred. But Libor and Euribor rates have almost doubled compared to a year ago.

Ukraine's parliamentary coalition collapses, making snap elections impossible

President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy was mulling calling a snap election after he is sworn in on May 20, but this was thwarted by the People's Front faction's decision to quit the ruling coalition.

Russian consumer loans ballooning despite CBR measures to cool the market

Unsecured consumer loans in Russia keep on growing, increasing by 25% year-on-year in January-March 2018, Vedomosti daily said on May 17 citing the data by Frank RG. Unsecured loans accounted for RUB1.05tn of the total retail loans volume of RUB1.9tn

Ukraine parliament schedules Zelenskiy's inauguration ceremony for May 20

The inauguration of Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy will take place on May 20, according to a special draft resolution greenlighted by the nation's parliament on May 16, which in theory allows the new president to dissolve parliament

Albania to establish energy bourse to liberalise electricity market

The energy stock exchange is intended to increase security of the electricity supply and encourage investments in the sector.

Garanti latest Turkish bank to renew syndicated loan at higher costs, lower roll-over ratio

2 days ago

Ukraine's parliamentary coalition collapses, making snap elections impossible

3 days ago

Russian consumer loans ballooning despite CBR measures to cool the market

3 days ago

Ukraine parliament schedules Zelenskiy's inauguration ceremony for May 20

3 days ago

Albania to establish energy bourse to liberalise electricity market

3 days ago

More News

Tech

MOL teams up with InoBat on hydrogen fuel cell development

The Hungarian company is pursuing alternative investments in line with its long-term strategy as it seeks to decrease dependence on its core business.

Iran erecting native firewall amid fears of intensified Israeli, US cyberwarfare

Since the Stuxnet virus wrought havoc at its Natanz nuclear site, Iranian university scientists have stepped up efforts to protect industry and infrastructure.

Facebook bans ads of Hungarian government-friendly media conglomerate

Mediaworks, which is closely aligned with the ruling conservative Fidesz, says there are "political and ideological reasons" for the decision.

Hyundai signs €80mn partnership deal with Croatia's Rimac Automobili

Rimac has grabbed the attention of international carmakers as the industry focus shifts towards electric vehicles.

Falling smartphone sales drag down home electronics sector in Romania

Sales of electro-IT goods down 1.7% in 1Q19, finds GfK study, despite "crazy growth" of phablet sales as Romanians switch to larger-screen mobile devices.

MOL teams up with InoBat on hydrogen fuel cell development

4 hours ago

Iran erecting native firewall amid fears of intensified Israeli, US cyberwarfare

3 days ago

Facebook bans ads of Hungarian government-friendly media conglomerate

4 days ago

Hyundai signs €80mn partnership deal with Croatia's Rimac Automobili

5 days ago

Falling smartphone sales drag down home electronics sector in Romania

11 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

ANALYSIS: Trump offers talks after parking B-52s and aircraft carrier on Iran’s doorstep. Spot the “rogue nation”

Revolutionary Guard says no negotiations will be held with “unreliable Americans”. Adds US “will not dare take military action against us”.

COLCHIS: Zelenskiy faces tough choices amidst high expectations

Zelenskiy is allegedly supported by powerful Ukrainian oligarch and Poroshenko’s arch-rival Igor Kolomoyskiy. Ukrainian voters obviously believed that Zelenskiy was the lesser of two evils. What went into making that choice?

COMMENT: Chinese engagement in CESEE: paper dragons and false inevitabilities?

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is no less than an attempt by the Chinese to reshape the international order, but it has acted as a strategic opportunist and has no clear development plan.

Bank of Russia guides for first rate cut as soon as 2-3Q

Russia's CBR kept its key rate at 7.75% and provided dovish mid-term guidance that suggests a rate cut in the second or third quarters of this year

COMMENT: After the Ukrainian presidential elections: Anything is possible and nothing is certain

Ukraine’s president-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been on the job less than a week and he is already been tested by Russia and a new language law, but the biggest challenge remains winning seats in the October parliamentary elections

ANALYSIS: Trump offers talks after parking B-52s and aircraft carrier on Iran’s doorstep. Spot the “rogue nation”

9 days ago

COLCHIS: Zelenskiy faces tough choices amidst high expectations

11 days ago

COMMENT: Chinese engagement in CESEE: paper dragons and false inevitabilities?

16 days ago

Bank of Russia guides for first rate cut as soon as 2-3Q

23 days ago

COMMENT: After the Ukrainian presidential elections: Anything is possible and nothing is certain

24 days ago

More Opinion

Data

Russia's GDP disappoints in 1Q19 with 0.5% growth

Russia's GDP growth slowed notably to 0.5% year-on-year in 1Q19, down from the strong 2.7% y/y seen in 4Q18 and 1.9% y/y in 1Q18, according to the preliminary data by Rosstat statistics bureau.

Albania’s 4-mоnth trade gap widens 9.3% y/y

Albania has historically run a substantial trade deficit caused by its narrow production and export base, and has partly funded this with remittances from Albanians living abroad.

Turkish private sector’s 1-yr FX loan repayment obligations fall 3% m/m to $60.4 bn in March

Assessing economic flashpoints on horizon, analyst says external debts equal to around 24% of Turkey’s GDP need to be serviced over the next 12 months, leaving the lira vulnerable to bouts of risk aversion.

Hungary's stellar Q1 GDP growth puts it first in Europe

GDP growth reached a 19-year high of 5.3%, with the industrial sector unfazed by a slowdown in eurozone economies or the strike at Audi's Gyor factory.

Czech economic growth slows on lower external demand and household consumption

The Czech economic growth slowed to 2.5% year-on-year in the first quarter of this year from 2.6% in the 4Q18, affected mostly by lower external demand and household consumption

Russia's GDP disappoints in 1Q19 with 0.5% growth

3 hours ago

Albania’s 4-mоnth trade gap widens 9.3% y/y

2 days ago

Turkish private sector’s 1-yr FX loan repayment obligations fall 3% m/m to $60.4 bn in March

3 days ago

Hungary's stellar Q1 GDP growth puts it first in Europe

4 days ago

Czech economic growth slows on lower external demand and household consumption

4 days ago

More Data

Features

Kazakhstan’s banking sector under pressure, bracing for more M&A or defaults

Fears of a fresh banking crisis are mounting in Kazakhstan thanks to a backdrop of rising political risk in the lead-up to snap presidential elections in June and debt. More mergers and liquidations are in store.

Ukraine’s banks are back in profit, provisions made bad debt non-toxic

Ukraine’s banking sector has returned to profit, and while non-performing loans remain extremely high, those profits have allowed the banks to make provisions for their bad debt, which is no longer regarded as “toxic” by analysts.

Golden keys to the EU’s back door

While EU members are taking steps to end or phase out investment for citizenship programmes, the opposite is happening in some potential future members.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Turkey mired in ‘death of democracy’ outrage—but global lenders are unfazed

Erdogan party hacks nevertheless ask why markets give this particular authoritarian regime such a hard time. Answer may be its lack of technocrats with freedom to run macro policy. Lickspittles get you nowhere.

Russia's nuclear power exports are booming

State-owned Rosatom operates 35 nuclear power stations in Russia, and is actively exporting its nuclear technology to countries around the world.

Kazakhstan’s banking sector under pressure, bracing for more M&A or defaults

10 days ago

Ukraine’s banks are back in profit, provisions made bad debt non-toxic

10 days ago

Golden keys to the EU’s back door

11 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Turkey mired in ‘death of democracy’ outrage—but global lenders are unfazed

10 days ago

Russia's nuclear power exports are booming

12 days ago

More Features

Blogs

VISEGRAD BLOG: Poland shocked by film documenting Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse of children

“Just Don’t Tell Anyone” neared 6mn views just 36 hours after its premiere on YouTube, shaking up Poland's political landscape ahead of the European Parliament elections.

TEHRAN BLOG: As US hawks go for its jugular, Iran issues gentle ultimatum to Europe

Iranians place a slow-ticking time bomb under nuclear deal but hand Europeans very clear instructions on how to defuse it.

BALKAN BLOG: Montenegro braces for verdicts in "Trial of the century"

As the coup plot trial that has gripped the Montenegrin nation nears its end, the opposition Democratic Front is preparing to defend its leaders from police arrest.

TEHRAN BLOG: Iran ‘set to scale down nuclear deal undertakings’ as US cranks up pressure on multiple fronts

Washington’s assault on oil exports and civilian nuclear energy, designation of elite Iranian troops as “terrorist” and dispatch of an aircraft carrier drawing a response from Tehran.

KYIV BLOG: Zelenskiy’s zinger roasts Putin’s offer of passports for all Ukrainians

It's what you would expect from a professional stand-up comedian: Ukraine’s president-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to grant Russian passports to any Ukrainians that want one with cutting satire.

VISEGRAD BLOG: Poland shocked by film documenting Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse of children

7 days ago

TEHRAN BLOG: As US hawks go for its jugular, Iran issues gentle ultimatum to Europe

11 days ago

BALKAN BLOG: Montenegro braces for verdicts in "Trial of the century"

12 days ago

TEHRAN BLOG: Iran ‘set to scale down nuclear deal undertakings’ as US cranks up pressure on multiple fronts

13 days ago

KYIV BLOG: Zelenskiy’s zinger roasts Putin’s offer of passports for all Ukrainians

21 days ago

More Blogs

Latest Updates

News

Despite Turkey’s economic strife, local lenders’ spring loan refinancing season is progressing undeterred. But Libor and Euribor rates have almost doubled compared to a year ago.

President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy was mulling calling a snap election after he is sworn in on May 20, but this was thwarted by the People's Front faction's decision to quit the ruling coalition.

Unsecured consumer loans in Russia keep on growing, increasing by 25% year-on-year in January-March 2018, Vedomosti daily said on May 17 citing the data by Frank RG. Unsecured loans accounted for RUB1.05tn of the total retail loans volume of RUB1.9tn

The inauguration of Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy will take place on May 20, according to a special draft resolution greenlighted by the nation's parliament on May 16, which in theory allows the new president to dissolve parliament

The energy stock exchange is intended to increase security of the electricity supply and encourage investments in the sector.

Tech

The Hungarian company is pursuing alternative investments in line with its long-term strategy as it seeks to decrease dependence on its core business.

Since the Stuxnet virus wrought havoc at its Natanz nuclear site, Iranian university scientists have stepped up efforts to protect industry and infrastructure.

Mediaworks, which is closely aligned with the ruling conservative Fidesz, says there are "political and ideological reasons" for the decision.

Rimac has grabbed the attention of international carmakers as the industry focus shifts towards electric vehicles.

Sales of electro-IT goods down 1.7% in 1Q19, finds GfK study, despite "crazy growth" of phablet sales as Romanians switch to larger-screen mobile devices.

Opinion

Revolutionary Guard says no negotiations will be held with “unreliable Americans”. Adds US “will not dare take military action against us”.

Zelenskiy is allegedly supported by powerful Ukrainian oligarch and Poroshenko’s arch-rival Igor Kolomoyskiy. Ukrainian voters obviously believed that Zelenskiy was the lesser of two evils. What went into making that choice?

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is no less than an attempt by the Chinese to reshape the international order, but it has acted as a strategic opportunist and has no clear development plan.

Russia's CBR kept its key rate at 7.75% and provided dovish mid-term guidance that suggests a rate cut in the second or third quarters of this year

Ukraine’s president-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been on the job less than a week and he is already been tested by Russia and a new language law, but the biggest challenge remains winning seats in the October parliamentary elections

Data

Russia's GDP growth slowed notably to 0.5% year-on-year in 1Q19, down from the strong 2.7% y/y seen in 4Q18 and 1.9% y/y in 1Q18, according to the preliminary data by Rosstat statistics bureau.

Albania has historically run a substantial trade deficit caused by its narrow production and export base, and has partly funded this with remittances from Albanians living abroad.

Assessing economic flashpoints on horizon, analyst says external debts equal to around 24% of Turkey’s GDP need to be serviced over the next 12 months, leaving the lira vulnerable to bouts of risk aversion.

GDP growth reached a 19-year high of 5.3%, with the industrial sector unfazed by a slowdown in eurozone economies or the strike at Audi's Gyor factory.

The Czech economic growth slowed to 2.5% year-on-year in the first quarter of this year from 2.6% in the 4Q18, affected mostly by lower external demand and household consumption

Features

Fears of a fresh banking crisis are mounting in Kazakhstan thanks to a backdrop of rising political risk in the lead-up to snap presidential elections in June and debt. More mergers and liquidations are in store.

Ukraine’s banking sector has returned to profit, and while non-performing loans remain extremely high, those profits have allowed the banks to make provisions for their bad debt, which is no longer regarded as “toxic” by analysts.

While EU members are taking steps to end or phase out investment for citizenship programmes, the opposite is happening in some potential future members.

Erdogan party hacks nevertheless ask why markets give this particular authoritarian regime such a hard time. Answer may be its lack of technocrats with freedom to run macro policy. Lickspittles get you nowhere.

State-owned Rosatom operates 35 nuclear power stations in Russia, and is actively exporting its nuclear technology to countries around the world.

Blogs

“Just Don’t Tell Anyone” neared 6mn views just 36 hours after its premiere on YouTube, shaking up Poland's political landscape ahead of the European Parliament elections.

Iranians place a slow-ticking time bomb under nuclear deal but hand Europeans very clear instructions on how to defuse it.

As the coup plot trial that has gripped the Montenegrin nation nears its end, the opposition Democratic Front is preparing to defend its leaders from police arrest.

Washington’s assault on oil exports and civilian nuclear energy, designation of elite Iranian troops as “terrorist” and dispatch of an aircraft carrier drawing a response from Tehran.

It's what you would expect from a professional stand-up comedian: Ukraine’s president-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to grant Russian passports to any Ukrainians that want one with cutting satire.

Newsletters

Most Read

Podcasts

Moldova has long been a money-laundering black hole. Then in 2014 they had a shock when more than $1bn was stolen from the bank se....

Selected articles from our premium news/views wire IntelliNews Pro

Follow Us On

Reports

Cookies on the bne IntelliNews website