A business daily thinks the Hungarian National Bank intended to flex its muscles when it decided to cut its main interest rate again earlier this week, although the Forint lost approximately three per cent of its value to the main currencies over the past two weeks. READ MORE
A business analyst says critics have been too hasty to condemn the National Bank for not resorting to swift “verbal intervention” in response to the heavy losses the Forint has suffered over the past week. A pro-government columnist urges decision makers to consider joining the Eurozone, in order to shield Hungary from currency fluctuations. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator says cutting interest rates was good policy until now, but National Bank leaders should heed the clear signs that the markets want a rise. READ MORE
A business weekly thinks that aside from the latest interest rate cut by the Hungarian National Bank, the Forint has lost ground over the past weeks because investors have grown increasingly cautious about emerging markets. READ MORE
A conservative critic of government policies thinks the new growth-oriented credit scheme announced by the National Bank may help, but only if Hungarian small businesses are competitive enough and banks are ready to embrace the project. READ MORE
Népszabadság reacts with relief to the first programme announced on Thursday by the new National Bank chief, while Magyar Nemzet comments that Mr Matolcsy has done more in one week than his predecessor did in six years. READ MORE
Newspapers are full of mostly cautious speculation about the fate of the National Bank under György Matolcsy who hasserved so far as Minister for National Economy. While some commentators see his appointment as a coup, others point out that the markets had taken the change for granted. READ MORE
A pro-government daily accuses Simor, the outgoing President of the Hungarian National Bank (MNB) of servility because he passed on confidential information about Hungarian commercial banks to the IMF and finds it outraging that Simor denies ever having ordered the report to the IMF. READ MORE
An independent conservative blogger calls for the resignation of the Minister of National Economy, holding him responsible for last year’s negative growth rate. A pro-government commentator welcomes the imminent departure of the present chairman of the National Bank, in early March. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist welcomes the government’s plans to tax Hungarian deposits abroad. Left-wing and liberal commentators believe that the proposed tax is just a populist rhetorical stunt, rather than an effective measure to close tax evasion loopholes. READ MORE