Czech Republic
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.
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.
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
Czech unemployment drops to a two decade low of 2.7% in April
Czech unemployment rate dropped to 2.7% in April from 3% in March, at its lowest level since June 1997, due to the continuing start of seasonal work, according to data by the Labour Office published on May 10.
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Czech PMI falls to its lowest level since December 2012
The Czech IHS Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) dropped further to its lowest level since December 2012, to 46.6 in April from 47.3 in March, driven by a strong decline in client demand
Czech National Bank hikes its interest rates for the first time in 2019
The Czech National Bank (CNB) increased the two-week repo rate by 25 base points to 2% from 1.75%, the highest level since February 2009.
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.
Poland leads CEE charge against “centralised” and “multi-speed” EU
Warsaw wants the EU to devolve more powers to national governments and opposes deeper integration of some – mostly Western – member states in specific policy areas.
15 years on from 2004 wave of EU accessions, convergence but a patchy overall record for CEE countries
15 years after eight CEE states entered the EU, there have been significant economic gains, but in recent years this has been accompanied by a backsliding on democratic reforms.
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Prague recorded the lowest unemployment rate of 1.3% again among EU regions
Czech capital Prague again posted the lowest unemployment rate in the European Union of 1.3% in 2018, followed by Czech South-West region, according to Eurostat data published on April 29.
Czech financial analytical office uncovered record number of fraudulent transactions in 2018
The Financial Analytical Authority (FAU) uncovered a record number of fraudulent transactions of CZK7.55bn in 2018. The volume of secured funds related to corruption, money laundering, tax fraud and terrorist financing recorded a rapid year-on-year i
COMMENT: CEE Fintech Atlas: Old narratives are changing, innovations may flow now from East to West
After nearly three decades since the end of the socialist experiment many countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have made enormous progress, but they are still catching up to their western peers. But not in fintech.
Czech household confidence down for third consecutive month, at its lowest level since 2016
Confidence in Czech economy increased very slightly by 0.1 point month-on-month in April to 97.1 from 97.0 in March
BRICKS AND MORTAR: Investors look to recession-proof student housing market
New study by Colliers International and CMS reveals shortfall in CEE student housing estimated at up to €4bn.