Vienna - The price for crude oil produced by the Organization

Vienna

Vienna  - Net profits of Austria's largest bank, Bank Austria, dropped 12 per cent to 1.06 billion euros (1.66 billion dollars) in the first half of 2008, data released by the bank showed Friday, as trading losses offset growth in Central and Eastern Europe.

Bank Austria, a subsidiary of the Italian UniCredit group, said the international banking crisis affected trading especially in the first quarter.

Vienna - The price for crude oil pro

Vienna - The price for crude oil produced by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) fell by 1.46 dollars Tuesday, according OPEC data from Wednesday, amid indications that the

Vienna - Austria's Erste Bank on Wednesday reported a 12.5 per cent increase in net profits to 636.6 million euros (993.1 million dollars) for the first half of 2008.

Strong performances of subsidiaries in Central and Eastern Europe as well as record operating income in the second quarter contributed to the growth, the retail bank said.

Operating income rose 17.2 per cent to 3.51 billion euros in the first six months of 2008, from 2.99 million euros last year.