As Russia continues to grapple with low oil prices and Western sanctions, the government's structural reforms and privatisation plans are designed to kick-start growth and balance the budget deficit. But is the time right to sell state assets? Stefanie Linhardt investigates.
Central & eastern Europe
Latest articles from Central & eastern Europe
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Top 250 EU banks: assets down, profits up
September 1, 2016The euro’s continuing fall against the dollar held back the major players in the EU, but Austria made a startling comeback and there was further good news from Romania and Croatia.
No such thing as a free Russian bank
August 30, 2016Are the 'free' failed banks available in Russia under the sanation process all that they seem? Not quite...
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Addiko: turning around Hypo Alpe Adria
August 1, 2016Much has been written about Austria's Heta, the ‘bad bank’ which took on the toxic assets of Hypo Alpe Adria. But what of Addiko, which was created from the good parts of its south-eastern European network? Stefanie Linhardt investigates.
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Walking away: anti-bank politics in eastern Europe
August 1, 2016In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, populist politicians in central and eastern Europe realised that struggling homeowners could be their new powerbase. Lenders are facing a potential onslaught of unwelcome government intervention in the banking sector, though there could be a silver lining. Stefanie Linhardt reports.
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Romania’s minister of public finance puts transparency first
August 1, 2016With only a few months to go before the country’s elections, Romanian minister of public finance Anca Dana Dragu talks to Stefanie Linhardt about her ministry’s tax and infrastructure plans.
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Bucharest Stock Exchange: the quest for liquidity
August 1, 2016Bucharest Stock Exchange lacks only liquidity to move from 'frontier' to 'emerging' market status. And, as Stefanie Linhardt discovers, a partnership with the pan-south-eastern European trading platform SEE Link could help the Romanian bourse get there.
New bill puts Romania’s mortgage lenders under pressure
July 20, 2016At the end of April, Romania’s parliament approved a bill allowing borrowers to walk away from their mortgage debts. The Banker looks at mortgage holdings of the largest banks in the country.
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Outgoing Polish CBG urges successor to focus on stability
July 1, 2016Poland’s outgoing central bank chief Marek Belka tells Stefanie Linhardt that maintaining banking stability will be the major issue for his replacement.
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Otkritie FC Bank investment chief aims for further diversification
July 1, 2016In two years, Otkritie FC Bank’s Konstantin Tserazov has transformed its investment business through a three-way split between its bond portfolio, repurchase agreements and derivatives. Now, he tells Stefanie Linhardt, he intends to diversify the Russia-focused bank even further.