Page 8 - bne_newspaper_January_18_2019

The Regions This Week
January 18, 2019 www.intellinews.com I Page 8
Central Europe
Poland’s PGNiG entered an agreement to explore for oil and gas in the UAE’s emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. The deal between the Polish state-controlled oil company and two local oil and gas companies gives PGNiG an opportunity to add to its foreign oil and gas exploration and production portfolio, in line with its strategy of international expansion.
Bratislava’s mayor wants a ban on gambling in the Slovak capital. Mayor Matus Vallo announced he will launch a new public petition calling for
a ban as the city council cannot ban gambling on its own.
Hungary’s largest lender OTP Bank closed
the acquisition of Societe Generale Group’s Bulgarian unit. OTP will make the acquisition in Bulgaria through its local unit DSK Bank, the country's second-biggest bank.
The population of Estonia grew by 4,691 in 2018, according to preliminary data released by Statistics Estonia. The result sees the Estonian population growing for a second consecutive year. The 0.4% growth is also faster than the nearly 0.3% expansion recorded in 2017 and leaves the population of the smallest Baltic State at 1,323,820.
Latvia’s consumer price index (CPI) grew 2.6% y/y in December, data released by the country’s Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) showed. Inflation has now grown in y/y terms for 28 months straight.
Czech property prices in Prague and the regional capitals rose on average by 10.1% year-on-year in December 2018, the fastest rate in Europe, according to a Deloitte study. The average price is CZK56,800 per square metre.
The most expensive is Prague, which accounted for about two-thirds of the total volume of sales.
The property boom continues in the Hungarian capital too. Homes sales in Budapest in December reached 9,721, falling slightly from 9,787 during the same period a year ago, real estate agency chain Duna House announced.
Polish core inflation eased to 0.6% y/y in December, the National Bank of Poland said. Subdued core inflation – which is price growth without the influence of prices of food and energy – will only affirm Poland’s Monetary Policy Council (MPC) in its current dovish position. Interest rates have lingered at a record low of 1.5% for over three years in Poland now.
Lithuania’s current account showed a deficit of €246.46mn in November, the Bank of Lithuania reported. The current account increased 22.6% m/m and ballooned 463% on the year. A sharp decrease in the deficit on the goods account owes to the monthly improvement of the head- line deficit, while gains on other accounts drove the annual jump.
Railway of Slovak Republic (ZSR) trade unions announced a strike alert, due to the employer's approach to collective bargaining. They called on Transport Minister Arpad Ersek to begin dealing with the situation at ZSR after the last collective agreement ended on December 31, 2018.
The Czech economy grew by 2.4% in 3Q18 y/y and 0.6% y/y, according to Statistics Office
data. The reason for the expected slowdown
in GDP growth from 4.5% in 2017 is the high comparative base, the fact that the Czech economy is operating above its potential, and weaker economic growth in Eurozone, according to Generali Investments analysis.