1 Generally, if economic weakness is the primary concern, the Fed acts to reduce interest rates, which supports the economy by inducing businesses to invest more in new capital goods and by leading households to spend more on houses, autos, and other goods and services.
Austrian companies in general, and Austrian banks in particular, identified market opportunities in Central and Eastern Europe at a relatively early stage and have established a considerable presence in the region by now. With an average market share in banking  4  BIS Review 89/2007  sector assets of almost 25%, Austria’s banks are market leaders in Central and Eastern Europe.