Belarus tests new BUK missile system as a low-key arms race in Eastern Europe gathers momentum
CSTO states express serious concern over terrorist threat in Afghanistan
Armenia refuses to host Eurasian Economic Union summit
COMMENT: Trump 2.0 could be a blessing for Belarus
Tusk says he will protect broadcasters TVN and Polsat from hostile takeovers
Russia hopes for deal on bases in Syria
US finally approves $20bn contribution to the G7's $50bn Ukraine loan
Ukraine's international reserves rise as financial aid ensures budget stability
Moscow is “close to achieving all its war goals", says Russian spy chief
For the Baltic states, bigger defence spending may never be enough
Poor market conditions start to put Emerging Europe IPOs on hold
Gas prices rising as EU storage tanks empty faster than usual
Tusk calls for unity against Russia, proposes Baltic Sea policing mission
Czechs choose the nuclear option
Czech inflation stays at 2.8% in November
Czech unemployment inches upwards to 3.9% in November
Czech industrial production falls by 2.1% y/y in October
North Macedonia secures second €500mn loan from Hungary to repay 2018 Eurobond
Shares in Hungary’s 4iG skyrocket amid speculation over SpaceX collaboration
Hungary's inflation accelerates to 3.7% in November
Poland’s Orlen ditches largest petrochemical project in Europe
Poland's PragmaGO acquires Romanian digital factoring company Telecredit
Polish central bank may delay rate cuts to next autumn, Glapiński says
Slovak industry maintains growth of 1.3% y/y in October
COMMENT: European countries plan hydrogen import infrastructure to achieve climate goals
Slovak coalition wobbles but will it fall down?
Czechia to open oil reserves after Russia halts Druzhba pipeline flows
Emerging Europe winemakers sparkle as global wine production declines
EBRD warns of risks for emerging markets pursuing industrial policies
COMMENT: The EU’s Internal Security Framework is unfit for Cold War 2.0
Albanian police use tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters
Albania considers TikTok, Snapchat ban after fatal school stabbing
Watchdog warns Western Balkan banks are conduits for money laundering
Kosovan PM’s visit leads to new rift in Bosnia
Serbia faces backlash over controversial foreign agents bill
EU admits Bulgaria, Romania to full Schengen membership
Bulgaria’s central bank slams spending hike in 2025 budget
Bulgaria threatens to cut transit of Russian gas to Serbia
Bulgarian prosecutors target ex-PM Petkov, putting coalition talks at risk
Croatian PM survives no-confidence motion over healthcare scandal
Croatian government faces no-confidence vote over healthcare scandal
Eight arrested over terrorist attack on water canal in Kosovo
Explosion on Zubin Potok canal escalates tensions between Kosovo and Serbia
Kosovo takes first steps towards establishing defence industry
Rising inflation may force Moldova's central bank to reconsider its expansionary monetary policy
Bucharest Stock Exchange mulls expansion in Moldova
Moldova's separatist Transnistria region prepares for the end of free Russian gas
Moldovan PM sacks energy minister, declares state of emergency in energy sector
Montenegro probes suspected plot to assassinate President Milatovic
North Macedonia’s FX reserves soar 24.1% y/y at end-November
Political tensions rise in North Macedonia after unrest on Albanian Flag Day
North Macedonia gets new eco-bus fleet as fuel crisis causes transport chaos in capital
BCR’s venture capital company invests in SaaS platform FieldOS
Romania’s trade deficit reaches new record in October
Serbia signs €720mn contract with PowerChina on first phase of Belgrade metro
Serbian president says he's not Assad and he's not leaving
Serbia allocates €1bn in first-ever green budget for 2025
US “scrambles” to respond to Turkish-backed Syria offensive targeting partner force Kurds
Qatar-Turkey-Europe gas pipeline ambition could be back on following fall of Assad
ISTANBUL BLOG: After “conquering” Damascus, Erdogan turns his eye to the Kurds
SYRIA BLOG: Putin joins George W Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” club
INTERVIEW: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank financing Central Asia’s green future
Award seen as Nobel Prize for human rights won by Kabul women’s rights activist and jailed Tajik lawyer
PANNIER: Central Asia faces tough race against clock to prevent water crisis
Corruption probe launched into Armenian satellite project
Several top Armenian officials resign amid political shake-up
COMMENT: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and China accelerate efforts to expand the Middle Corridor
Azerbaijan continues crackdown on independent media
Azerbaijan rights defender detained ahead of US award ceremony
Prolonged protests and backtrack on EU accession threaten Georgia’s economic stability
INTERVIEW: Giorgi Gakharia, Georgian opposition leader
Georgian demonstrators mobilise against “titushky” thugs
Masked 'titushky' thugs target journalists and opposition members in Tbilisi
Growth returned to Kazakhstan service sector in November, PMI shows
Kazakh manufacturing sector sees sharp improvement in November, PMI data shows
Decades-old Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan border dispute could be over
Kyrgyzstan: MPs seem willing to give police a free hand
Hit indirectly by sanctions, Mongolia struggles to find workarounds
HESS: Mongolia’s unique success story between rock and a hard place at risk
Mongolia copper-gold discovery hailed for “globally significant” prospects
PANNIER: Grievous blow for the Pamiris as Tajikistan ends cooperation with the Aga Khan
COP29: Central Asian states losing arable land
Iranian officials in uproar over police beatings of students in Russia
Uzbekistan’s first unicorn Uzum to launch a second funding round and fuel faster growth
Alisher Usmanov’s wealth shrinks by $7.29bn on falling markets
Russia's budget oil breakeven price world’s second lowest as oil revenues recover
Southeast European countries look to Algeria to diversify energy supplies
Slovenia turns back to Algerian gas after flirtation with Russian supplies
“Silent demise” of world’s vast rangelands threatens food supply of billions, warns UNCCD report
The hurricane season in 2024 was weird
Global warming will increase crop yields in Global North, but reduce them in Global South
Hundreds of millions on verge of starvation, billions more undernourished as Climate Crisis droughts take their toll
Kamikaze marketing: how the natural diamond industry could have reacted to the lab-grown threat
Global access to energy starts to fall for the first time in a decade, says IEA
Saudi Arabia hosts kingdom's first Africa summit, to boost ties, promote stability
Putin at 2023 Africa-Russia summit: Wiping debts, donating grain and boosting co-operation
EBRD 2023: Bank to expand into the whole of Africa plus Iraq
Botswana throws the diamond industry a lifeline
Nelson Mandela worried about natural diamonds, Leonardo di Caprio defended them, makers of lab-grown stones demonise them
Botswana’s 2,492-carat diamond discovery is golden opportunity to replicate legendary Jonker diamond's global legacy
Russia’s Rosatom to support nuclear projects across Africa at AEW2024
JPMorgan, Chase and HSBC reportedly unwittingly processed payments for Wagner warlord Prigozhin
Burkina Faso the latest African country to enter nuclear power plant construction talks with Russia
IMF: China’s slowdown will hit sub-Saharan growth
Moscow unlikely to give up Niger toehold as threat of ECOWAS military action looms
Overcoming insecurity to unlock the Central African Republic’s mineral riches
Russia funding war in Ukraine via illegal gold mining in Africa – WGC report
Rain, rain go away
Africa, Asia most people living in extreme poverty
10 African countries to experience world’s fastest population growth to 2100
EM winners and losers from the global green transformation
Russia blocks UN Security Council resolution on Sudan humanitarian crisis
G20 summit wraps up with a joint statement strong on sentiment, but short on specifics
Malaysia seeks BRICS membership
SDS storms fed by sand and dust equal in weight to 350 Great Pyramids of Giza, says UNCCD
Southern Africa has 'enormous' potential for green hydrogen production, study finds
Kazakhstan has no plans to join BRICS, says Astana
Sri Lanka to apply for BRICS membership
How France is losing Africa
Gabon coup attempt after the re-election of President Ali Bongo
Guinea grants final approvals to Rio Tinto for $11.6bn Simandou iron-ore project
The West is bleeding the Global South of wealth thanks to massive wage inequality, says study
Kenya’s untapped mineral wealth holds the promise of economic transformation
US adds 17 Liberian-flagged bulk carriers and oil tankers to Russian sanctions-busting blacklist
Panama and Liberia vying for largest maritime registry
Russia, facing loss of Syrian base for Africa operations, seen turning to war-torn Sudan or divided Libya
Libya’s mineral riches: unlocking a future beyond oil
EBRD announces profit of €2.1bn in 2023
Ukraine claims it was behind massacre of Wagner Group mercenaries in Mali
Can Morocco's phosphate wealth put it at the centre of the global battery supply chain?
Hajj aftermath: deaths, disappearances and detentions spark investigations across world
Sri Lanka's LTL Holdings targets African power sector
Russia's nuclear diplomacy binding emerging markets to the Kremlin
Can Niger's military junta seize the country's uranium opportunity?
Disaster season: heat waves sweep the world – in charts and maps
AI will be a major source of GHGs by 2030, says Morgan Stanley
Niger and beyond: Francophone credit delivers coup de grâce
The world has passed peak per capital CO₂ emissions, but overall emissions are still rising
Trump threatens BRICS with tariffs if they dump the dollar
Global mean sea levels have increased by around 25cm since 1880
SITREP: Middle East rapidly destabilised by a week of missile strikes
Colombian mercenaries trapped in Sudan’s conflict
Air France diverts Red Sea flights after crew spots 'luminous object'
COMMENT: Tunisia on the brink of collapse
Tunisian President Kais Saied re-elected for second term
WHO declares "global public health emergency" owing to mpox outbreak in Central Africa, new virus strain
Climate crisis-driven global food security deteriorated between 2019 and 2022 and is even affecting the US
South Korea’s won slides as martial law crisis sparks market turmoil
Major bank’s service disruptions cause payment delays at fuel stations across Iran
Russia to mine Bitcoin in BRICS countries
China unveils $71bn swap facility to revitalise flagging economy
Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway makes waves with $1.9bn yen bond sale
Uzbekistan joins Kyrgyzstan in committing to October start on China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway construction
INTERVIEW: Jeet Chandan, co-founder of Indian investment platform BizDateUp
BCPG to invest $945mn in power projects, prioritising clean energy
Vietnam faces challenges in meeting carbon emission targets
Where does nuclear power-use stand in post-COP29 Asia?
Pakistan could quit TAPI as India now “extremely lukewarm” on gas pipeline project, says report
Russia and India explore Arctic shipbuilding cooperation
India's Competition Commission approves major steel industry acquisition
Trump vows to block Nippon Steel's $14bn bid for US Steel
China dismisses Trump's tariff threat, warns of 'no winners' in trade war
Iraq blocks IMDb website over 'immoral content' claims
Display unveils groundbreaking 50% stretchable screen: a game-changer for fashion and mobility
South Korean users flock to YouTube and Instagram as local platforms struggle
Kazakhstan’s big league fintech Kaspi acquires 65% of Turkish Nasdaq peer Hepsiburada for $1.1bn
Bahrain and Iran to begin talks on normalising relations
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait set to offer Russians visa-free entry
Jaw-dropping discovery: 450,000-year-old tooth unearthed in Iran
China's COMAC eyes Saudi Arabia as launchpad for international expansion
Trump considers Grenell for Iran envoy role amid policy shift
Iranian UFO “mothership” off coast of New Jersey, US congressman says
Iran's supreme leader blames Syrian regime collapse on US, Israel
As jubilant Syrian refugees in Turkey celebrate Assad downfall, analysts wonder what comes next in power vacuum
Erdogan sets Damascus as final target for “rebels” advancing in Syria
Satellite images show Russian forces still at Syrian air base, navy anchored offshore
UPDATED: Israeli tanks reach southern Damascus countryside
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu arrives in court over corruption charges
Kuwait greenlights tax deal with Iraq to prevent double taxation
Iran demands 'equal footing' with Kuwaiti and Saudi plans to drill for gas in Gulf
Middle East power grid struggles as demand hits record high
Iraq braces for severe heatwave with temperatures to reach 49C
Lebanon may be at the dawn of a new economic era
Is Israel embarking on a land grab in Syria?
So you want to get on the right side of Donald Trump? Try gift-wrapping a hotel
ANALYSIS: Regional escalation on the table following Israeli strike on Iran
Sea of Oman oil terminal boosts export resilience amid tensions with Israel
Israel attacks more than 250 military targets in Syria in 48 hours
Assad's Syrian regime faces imminent collapse as rebels close in on Damascus
Saudi Arabia wins 2034 World Cup bid, beating Australia
Trump Organization expands Saudi presence with two new hotels
American released from Syrian prison after smuggled entry
Life and commerce slowly return to Syrian capital Damascus
UPDATED: Syria's former president Assad arrives in Moscow
Israel launches biggest strike in Yemen, killing 40 people
TEHRAN BLOG: Pezeshkian's dilemma over Haniyeh's assassination
Iranian foreign ministry condemns Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran
Reactions to the killing of Haniyeh in Tehran
Latin America urged to boost tax take and private investment to close development gap
IMF: Breaking Latin America’s cycle of low growth and violence
COMMENT: Trump’s White House picks signal rocky start with Latin America
EU and Mercosur strike historic trade deal, setting stage for political battle
Latin America trapped in low growth cycle, ECLAC warns
Hurricane Beryl wreaks havoc in the Caribbean, leaves 10 dead as it heads for Mexico
What would a Trump win mean for Latin America?
US-Cuba rum war spills over as Biden law stirs Havana Club row
Brutal gang violence over failed voodoo spell claims nearly 200 lives in Haiti's capital
US election outcome may curb vital remittances to Latin America
Nicaragua unveils new canal route in bid to rival Panama
Paraguay stands firm with Taiwan amid growing Chinese pressure
Peru mining reform fails to stem surge in illegal gold trade and violence
Venezuela faces fresh US pressure as Washington recognises opposition leader as president-elect
Protests in Bangladesh escalate, demanding president leave office
Bangladesh tribunal issues arrest warrant against ousted PM Sheikh Hasina
World Bank says Bangladesh GDP growth to shrink in FY25
Rising gold ETF inflows set to drive global bullion prices
US imposes preliminary duties on Southeast Asian solar imports
COMMENT: From Globalisation to “slowbalisation” as FDIs decline on trade and geopolitical woes
Lavrov presses the flesh at ASEAN summit as Kremlin seeks to deepen ties with Asia
Angkor Archaeological Park attracts nearly 700,000 foreign tourists in nine months
ThaiBev sets THB18bn for expansion, targets Southeast Asia growth
Japan plans tax hike to fund $280bn military buildup
US boosts military aid to Taiwan in 2025
Xi warns 'no winners' in US-China trade war amid economic struggles
Peru's APEC summit exposes trade tug-of-war between Beijing and Washington
Russian exports of diamonds to Hong Kong up 18-fold in 5M24
Gazli Gas responds to reports on Uzbekistan project, refutes any suggestion sanctioned individuals are involved
Southeast Asia’s rising energy demands and what lies ahead
Southeast Asia expands pumped hydro to boost energy storage
Japan's atomic bomb survivors awarded Nobel Peace Prize
Nuclear envoys from South Korea, US, and Japan strengthen coordination amid North Korean tensions
Malaysia’s industrial growth slows in October following mixed sector performance
Myanmar junta to allow observers for controversial 2025 election amid ongoing conflict
Nepal floods - death toll rises to 209
Kolkata hospital rape and murder case sparks international outcry, raises questions
South Asia hit by floods and landslides after heavy rainfall
Russian pivot to the Global South includes unscrupulous army recruiting practices
North Korea slams Yoon's martial law move, brands it 'insane'
Russia is supporting North Korea’s nuclear programme, Nato claims
South Korean president declares martial law, cancels it, now faces impeachment
Security personnel dead as Imran Khan’s supporters breach Islamabad lockdown
India’s Modi urges BRICS to unify stance on terrorism
Papua New Guinea tribal conflict leaves 30 dead amid gold mine dispute
Thousands evacuated as Mt. Kanlaon erupts, threatening more explosive activity
Philippines accuses Chinese coast guard of aggressive tactics in South China Sea
From coal to clean: The green energy transition in SE Asia
South Korea's disgraced defence minister attempts suicide
South Korea imposes travel ban on President Yoon over martial law investigation
Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports in October up 18.22%
German Prosecutors Confirm Termination of Money Laundering Investigation Against Alisher Usmanov
Comments by President of the Russian Fertilizers Producers Association Andrey Guryev on bilateral meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin
PhosAgro/UNESCO/IUPAC green chemistry research grants awarded for the 8th time to world's best young scientists
PhosAgro Tops RAEX ESG Ranking
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Hungary saw the largest reduction in the volume of non-performing loans (NPLs) among the 17 Central and Eastern European economies, according to a report by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The volume of non-performing loans decreased by 9.5% over the past 12 months, above the regional average, to €4.2bn by the end of June. This represents an NPL ratio of 3% of the gross loan portfolio, a 0.4pp improvement. The regional average NPL ratio hit a record low of 2.08%, a 0.1pp decline.
Hungary’s NPL coverage ratio increased to 59%, up 3.5pp, slightly below the regional average of 64.4%.
The lower NPL and higher coverage demonstrate a stronger financial position for Hungary’s banking sector within the region, analysts said.
The report chimes with the latest report by the Hungarian National Bank, which showed that the local banking sector’s resiliency is supported by high profitability, ample liquidity, robust capital adequacy, as well as a healthy loan portfolio.
Within the region, the highest coverage ratios were in Lithuania and Slovenia, at 117.7% and 99.9% respectively. Of the 17 countries surveyed by the EBRD, Ukraine had the highest NPL ratio, with 34.6%, down 4.4pp from 12 months ago.
According to the EBRD, stage 2 lending was 10.71% in the 12 months to June, falling from its peak of 12.15% in December 2022.
State-owned asset manager Corvinus BHG sold 8.2% of its shares in MBH Bank to the lender in an OTC transaction, reducing its stake to 20.01%, it was announced on December 12. Details on the exact ... more
MBH Bank’s outstanding loan stock rose 18%, above the sector average, to HUF5.9 trillion (€14.3bn) in the first nine months, while deposits grew by 16.3% to over HUF7.6 trillion, Hungary’s ... more
OTP Bank, Hungary's biggest commercial lender, booked a consolidated after-tax profit of HUF318.5bn (€780mn) in Q3, up 8% and beating analysts’ consensus by some 10%. OTP's foreign units ... more
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