Tag: Orban

Hungary: Simor’s last days

Feb 25, 2013 4:56pm by Stefan Wagstyl

Share this on

Hungary’s central bank is widely expected to cut its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent on Tuesday, at the last policy meeting before governor András Simor (pictured) steps down.

In a big week for the National Bank of Hungary, prime minister Viktor Orbán is due to name Simor’s successor on Friday, just three days before the new chief starts on Monday, March 4. Since Orban has made clear he wants a more relaxed monetary policy, he seems certain to pick a governor sympathetic to his views – possibly economy minister György Matolcsy. Continue reading »

Tags: Hungary economy, monetary policy, Orban Posted in Europe, Hungary | Permalink

Guest post: In defense of Hungary’s economic policy

Feb 18, 2013 6:22pm by beyondbrics

Share this on

By György Barcza of Századvég Economic Research

Since taking power in a landslide election victory in the spring of 2010, the Hungarian government, led by Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party, has received much criticism regarding its economic policy – including the FT’s beyondbrics.

Yet in the main, critics have failed to offer any alternative, other than to return to the previous economic model of transition from centrally-planned communism. Continue reading »

Tags: guest post, Hungary economy, Orban Posted in Europe, Hungary | Permalink

Hungarian bonds: betting on Orbán

Feb 13, 2013 5:59pm by Stefan Wagstyl

Share this on

Investors have given Viktor Orbán the benefit of the doubt by backing the country’s $3.25bn bond issue, its first international offering in more than a year.

They’ll be hoping that the unpredictable Hungarian prime minister won’t let them down as he prepares for next year’s parliamentary election, with all its political and economic uncertainty. Is this a safe bet? Continue reading »

Tags: bonds, elections, IMF, Orban Posted in Europe, Hungary | Permalink

Orban: Hungary will begin to ascend in 2013

Jan 18, 2013 6:45pm by Kester Eddy

Share this on

Say what you will, when it comes to confident – and confidence boosting – speeches, Viktor Orban is up there with the best. Speaking on public radio on Friday, for example, the Hungarian prime minister assured the nation that – as the government website paraphrased him:

“Hungary will begin to ascend in 2013,” and that having done the hard work in the past 30 months, the days of massive legislation efforts “needed for the country’s survival and competitiveness” are largely over and it’s time for growth. Continue reading »

Tags: Hungary economy, Orban Posted in Europe, Hungary | Permalink

Hungary cuts rates despite forex risk

Sep 25, 2012 3:38pm by Kester Eddy

Share this on

Hungary’s central bank (MNB) cut rates again on Tuesday, lopping 25 basis points off the base rate for the second consecutive month.

The move, which leaves the base rate at 6.5 per cent – still the highest in the EU – is seen by analysts as confirmation that the dovish ‘external’ members of the monetary council – ie the four appointed by prime minister Viktor Orban – are eager to spur growth rather than target inflation. Continue reading »

Tags: CEE debt, monetary policy, Orban Posted in Hungary | Permalink

Hungary: Orbán’s horror show

Sep 6, 2012 6:47pm by Kester Eddy

Share this on

A “list of horrors”.

That’s how Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán described on Thursday the conditions given by the IMF / EU for a deal, via a video on his Facebook page.

It’s just the latest twist in the long-running credit line saga, and comes one day after Orbán and his right-hand finance man Mihály Varga had talked confidently about reaching a deal “this autumn”. Continue reading »

Tags: currencies, Hungary-EU, Hungary-IMF, IMF, Orban Posted in Europe, Hungary | Permalink

Hungarian markets rally on EU hopes

Apr 25, 2012 12:53pm by Kester Eddy

Share this on

Hopes that the EU would give the green light to opening talks with Hungary and International Monetary Fund have been given something of a thumbs up from the markets.

The forint, stock exchange and CDS all improved on the news. Can the mood be sustained? Continue reading »

Tags: CEE, equities, Hungary-EU, IMF, Orban Posted in Europe, Hungary | Permalink

Hungary: interest rates stay high – so does pressure on Viktor Orbán

Apr 24, 2012 2:15pm by Stefan Wagstyl

Share this on

Hungary’s central bank on Tuesday left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 7 per cent a year – the highest in the European Union.

The decision was in line with market expectations, leaving investors free to focus their attention on the government and its efforts to secure the support of other EU states for talks on an EU/International Monetary Fund aid plan. Continue reading »

Tags: credit, eurozone crisis, monetary policy, Orban Posted in Europe, Hungary | Permalink

Hungary: starting to play ball

Apr 23, 2012 6:54pm by Kester Eddy

Share this on

It’s too early to say that Hungary is best buddies with the EU, but here’s a start.

Hungary on Monday said it planned new taxes and more cuts in state spending in order to stabilise the economy and meet the deficit targets required to fully access European Union grants. Continue reading »

Tags: Hungary economy, Hungary-EU, IMF, Orban Posted in Europe, Hungary | Permalink

Will Hungary go it alone with a bond?

Mar 27, 2012 5:55pm by Kester Eddy

Share this on

Hungary’s central bank held interest rates unchanged on Tuesday, making three straight months at 7 per cent, the highest among central European currencies. The move was more bland than buzz – fully in line with market expectations – and the forint remained unchanged after the announcement, at around 291.5 to the euro.

Instead, the buzz in Budapest is whether the government is serious about getting an EU-IMF credit line or, given the improved international sentiment, will go it alone and successfully tap the markets with a foreign currency bond issue. Continue reading »

Tags: Hungary politics, IMF, Orban, sovereign debt Posted in Europe, Hungary | Permalink

OECD to Orban: sort your house out

Mar 13, 2012 4:59pm by Kester Eddy

Share this on

The OECD published a 150-page report on Hungary on Tuesday, part wish-list, part gripe. The country must take “swift action” to stabilise its economy and put growth on a sound footing.

This on the same day that the EU suspended some of Hungary’s infrastructure subsidies unless the deficit isn’t cut by June 22. But will the Orbán government take heed? Continue reading »

Tags: EU, OECD, Orban, reform Posted in Europe, Hungary | Permalink

Hungary’s central bank head offers to work for a forint a month

Feb 27, 2012 5:02pm by Kester Eddy

Share this on

Hungarians love to tell you about their innovators in science, engineering and maths. Now, it seems, we have a new Magyar trailblazer – the world’s worst-paid banker.

And not just any banker, but the head of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) – the central bank itself.

András Simor, who’s been in the wars with Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz government from the start, has offered to work for Ft1 per month – that’s about 1/3 of a euro cent, which wouldn’t get you the skin off a salami past its sell-by date in even the remotest part of the puszta. Continue reading »

Tags: central banks, IMF, Orban Posted in Europe, Hungary | Permalink

Hungary: taking Orbán at his word

Jan 24, 2012 4:08pm by Rob Minto

Share this on

Who do you trust? If you are Hungary’s central bank, the answer is: Viktor Orbán. The bank kept interest rates at 7 per cent on Tuesday, surprising analysts who had anticipated a half-percentage point hike and causing a brief fall in the forint. But the bank is placing its faith in the prime minister doing the right thing in the eyes of the EU.

Meanwhile the man himself was in Brussels to meet EU top brass – apparently conceding ground over key legislation that might otherwise block a deal with the IMF, particularly over the independence of the central bank. It’s a bit of a gamble all round. Continue reading »

Tags: central banks, IMF, interest rates, Orban Posted in Europe, Hungary | Permalink

Guest post: Orbán’s hazy memory of debts, cuts and economic policy

Jan 23, 2012 2:58pm by beyondbrics

Share this on

By Péter Oszkó, former finance minister of Hungary

Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s prime minister, appeared unusually flexible and conciliatory in the European Parliament last week.

But, true to form, he still came up with some well-worn excuses for his government’s performance since taking office. His opponents exposed a few, but missed others – a number of which are demonstrably false. Continue reading »

Tags: EU, guest post, IMF, macroeconomics, Orban Posted in Europe, Hungary | Permalink

Hungary: Orbán munches humble pie

Jan 20, 2012 10:25am by Stefan Wagstyl

Share this on

Another conciliatory noise from Budapest, this time something quite specific – which could help persuade sceptics that Viktor Orbán, the prime minister, is at last serious about making concessions to reach a EU/IMF deal.

Orbán said on public radio on Friday that Hungary would abandon a planned merger of the central bank and its financial markets regulator – a key point of dispute with Brussels. Continue reading »

Tags: bonds, IMF, Orban Posted in Europe, Hungary | Permalink

Older entries

beyondbrics

The emerging markets hub

About this blog

Headlines email

Blog guide

News and comment from more than 40 emerging economies, headed by Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Follow @beyondbrics

'Like' our beyondbrics Facebook page, where we showcase a top story of the day

Sign up for our news headlines and markets snaphot service. We have two emails per day - London and New York headlines (sent at approx 6am and 12pm GMT).

Pretty much everything you need to know about beyondbrics is in our About this site page. But briefly:

To comment, please register for free with FT.com and read our policy on submitting comments.

There is an overall beyondbrics RSS feed, as well as feeds for all our countries, tags and authors. Learn more in our full RSS guide.

All posts are published in UK time.

Get in touch with us - your comments, advice and even complaints. Find out how to contact the team.

See the full list of FT blogs.

BB shortcuts

Regulars

Series

beyondbrics

Tag: Orban

Hungary: Simor’s last days

Guest post: In defense of Hungary’s economic policy

Hungarian bonds: betting on Orbán

Orban: Hungary will begin to ascend in 2013

Hungary cuts rates despite forex risk

Hungary: Orbán’s horror show

Hungarian markets rally on EU hopes

Hungary: interest rates stay high – so does pressure on Viktor Orbán

Hungary: starting to play ball

Will Hungary go it alone with a bond?

OECD to Orban: sort your house out

Hungary’s central bank head offers to work for a forint a month

Hungary: taking Orbán at his word

Guest post: Orbán’s hazy memory of debts, cuts and economic policy

Hungary: Orbán munches humble pie

BB: time to register

Global equities macromap

Most popular posts

Number of the day

Most commented

beyondbrics

The emerging markets hub

BB shortcuts

beyondbrics team

Regional teams:

Emerging markets data

Archive

What we’re writing about

What we’re reading