Economy

Euro crisis: preparing for the worst

The Budapest Business Journal asked companies operating in various sectors of the Hungarian economy whether they have contingency plans for the partial or complete breakup of the eurozone. They don’t. 

Danube regulation: submerged plans

When Hungary joined the European Union in 2004, it made a commitment to improve shipping conditions along its section of the Danube. Although plans were drawn up and feasibility studies were completed, and the country has already received EU funds for river regulation, the project has come to a standstill.

Will Hungary be next?

As the forint reached a record low and several state bond auctions passed with little results, Hungary is increasingly being identified as the next bleeding vein of Europe. Panic about the state debts of EU countries has spread so fast that it even threatens the life of the euro.

Finance

The Hungarian market: not a life insurance policy

The recession may have reached its low point last year, but its repercussions are still determining the present and future of insurance firms in Hungary. People are cautious and have fewer savings, the results of which are mirrored in the structure of policies that are taken today.

BSE turns to foreign shares to boost turnover

Thanks to a new service launched by the Budapest Stock Exchange and local brokerages, Hungarians can now buy and sell the shares of several European blue chips in forints. But can the new platform live up to expectations to re-invigorate the BSE?

Exchange-traded funds: save on fees

Exchange-traded funds are simple instruments that allow small investors to own a diversified portfolio of assets at a low cost. While certain ETFs can be part of a long-term investment strategy, others are best avoided, unless you are an experienced trader.

business

Deals of the Year 2011

The Budapest Business Journal presents the most significant deals of the year 2011 in private equity, M&A, foreign direct investments and capital outflows, stock exchange debuts, Jeremie transactions and corporate bond issues.  

BBJ focus: Translation

Lost in mirror translation

Confusion around OFFI – Translation authority or a monopolized state market leader?

The syntax of stability

The translation business was left relatively unchanged by the crisis: leading companies held on firmly to their positions and sometimes even grew.

Multilanguage multimedia

Demand for translating the content of web pages and localizing applications is growing exponentially

Translation between Hungarian and Chinese: a new frontier?

The latest round of China-EU strategic dialog, which took place in Gödöllő in early May under the auspices of the Hungarian EU presidency, has underlined the importance of China’s relations with Hungary and the rest of the EU

BBJ special report: office market

No funding to resuscitate office developments

Developers are ready to launch new office development projects, but they run into brick walls when they approach banks for proper financing. Industry insiders claim there is little hope this scenario will change anytime soon.

Newbies challenge old players

The general lack of activity on the property segment was also reflected in the 2010 business performance of facility management companies. But the slow market is not discouraging others active in various parts of the sector from trying their hand at management.