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Hungary’s credit rating outlook upgraded

Saturday, November 14th, 2015

As two out of the ‘big four’ upgrade Hungary’s credit rating outlook to positive, commentators ponder the prospects of a future upgrade of Hungarian sovereign debt to investment grade. READ MORE

Hungary to introduce family bankruptcy

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015

As Christian Democrat MPs table a new bill on family insolvency, a liberal columnist fears that even this scheme will not bail out families in extreme need. A conservative commentator on the other hand believes that the government is offering effective help for all different types of debtors, to save them from eviction and the loss of their property. READ MORE

Swiss Franc soars

Saturday, January 17th, 2015

In a comment on the shock caused by the decision of the Swiss National Bank to lift the currency cap which pegged the Swiss Franc to the Euro, commentators on both Left and Right praise the government’s earlier decision to convert FX mortgages into Forint loans. READ MORE

FX loan settlement scheme announced

Wednesday, November 12th, 2014

Commentators welcome the government’s decision to convert FX mortgages into Forint loans at market rates. READ MORE

PM calls for ’fair banks’

Monday, July 7th, 2014

As Parliament passes the law on foreign currency loans and PM Orbán announces a new era of ’fair banks’, the leading left-wing daily calls for an era of fair politics. A conservative columnist on the other hand, welcomes the idea of a more regulated financial system that would be more in line with national interests. READ MORE

Foreign currency (FX) loans to be eliminated

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014

As the government promises to convert FX loans into Forint credit by the end of the year, analysts wonder how the conversion could and should be carried out. READ MORE

Banks report modest profit

Saturday, March 1st, 2014

As two-thirds of banks in Hungary report a profit in 2013 after two years of losses, a conservative columnist points out that contrary to the predictions of left-wing critics of the government, taxes levied on banks have not undermined their profitability. The leading left-wing daily, on the other hand, warns of the low volume of lending. READ MORE

Central Banker Matolcsy on FX loans and banks

Tuesday, December 24th, 2013

The leading left-wing daily accuses National Bank chief Matolcsy of compromising judicial independence and the rule of law by calling for retroactive legislation in order to abolish FX loans. A pro-government commentator welcomes the government’s efforts to strengthen Hungarian owned banks. READ MORE

MNB extends cheap loan programme

Monday, September 16th, 2013

Analysts across the political spectrum ponder the possible implications of the National Bank’s extended lending program, which aims to stimulate economic growth. READ MORE

IMF credit not so cheap after all?

Monday, August 12th, 2013

Heti Válasz argues that Hungary is actually not losing money by financing her deficit from the market, rather than from the IMF credit line. READ MORE