Banking and Finance

©Reuters

In this issue

The region relies on older members of the EU to buy its exports and provide capital

May 17, 2012

Prospects depend on western support

The region relies on older members of the EU to buy its exports and provide capital

Bank Zachodni WBK ©Bloomberg May 17, 2012

Banking: Poles, Czechs and Slovaks form regional super-sector

The three core countries have profitable and well-capitalised institutions, writes Jan Cienski

Prague ©Dreamstime May 17, 2012

Financial centres: Vienna and Warsaw vie for pre-eminence

Other capitals have tried to compete but have proved too small and poorly regulated, writes Jan Cienski

Sberbank ©Bloomberg May 17, 2012

Russia: State-run ‘elephants’ are developing agility

VTB and Sberbank have become much more client-friendly and their access to funding is vastly superior to private competitors, writes Courtney Weaver

Stefan Petkov May 17, 2012

Business education: MBAs evolve from exotic flower status

A homegrown sector has emerged, says Kester Eddy

May 17, 2012

Real estate: Economic fears curtail market resurgence

Rents in euros have made investment in retail property more popular, says Jan Cienski

May 17, 2012

Financial support: Tough battle to keep cash flowing in

Vienna Initiative prevented a ‘rush to the exit’, writes Neil Buckley

OTP Bank ©Bloomberg May 17, 2012

Hungary: Institutions complain of ‘brutal’ treatment

The economic crisis coupled with policies of the centre-right government have had a severe impact, says Kester Eddy

Polish national flag ©Dreamstime May 17, 2012

Regional investors: Private equity now focuses on safety of Polish havens

Broader interest is in commercial property, says Jan Cienski