Tom Daly in Moscow
Mon, 27th Apr -- The crisis has crushed most Russian companies, but one is blessing the meltdown because it has driven consumers through its doors in droves: Russia's leading regional supermarket chain Magnit is expecting to end this year by setting a new sales record and is one of the few Russian firms still expanding fast.

Nicholas Watson in Prague
Mon, 4th May -- If you want to see the fruits of an innovative Central European company's labours, the next time you're in a Tesco in Hungary just look up and, even though there are no windows, you'll see sunlight flooding into the store. How? Lightway's tubular skylights.

Peter Halloran of Pharos Financial Group
Mon, 27th Apr -- After last year's freefall, we believe the Russian market is set to become one of the world's best performers this year and next. Our conservative assumption is 2009 earnings will drop by more than a third with ample room for growth to follow in 2010.

Ben Aris in Moscow
Mon, 27th Apr -- SDM Bank has stood out amongst the 1,000-odd small and medium-sized banks as amongst the most attractive acquisition targets in Russia. Based in Moscow's suburbs, it specialises in catering to the needs of medium-sized businesses, but not much more. But that conservatism is its strength.

Nicholas Watson in Prague
Mon, 27th Apr -- With signs of the oil price and emerging European economies stabilising, it might be tempting to plough back into the region's oil and gas stocks. Analysts say that would be jumping the gun a bit, but if you do, better to invest upstream than downstream.

Pat Koza in Warsaw
Mon, 27th Apr -- In the midst of a global recession, a significant number of Polish companies are thriving. And those doing better than their regional peers cite at least two common factors contributing to their growth: one is diversification; the other is flexibility.

Clare Nuttall in Almaty
Fri, 24th Apr -- Even as the future of GM hangs in the balance, the company's Uzbekistan joint venture is pushing ahead with plans to step up production of Chevrolets. With Russia and its other export markets contracting, GM Uzbekistan is focusing on the local market to ride out the crisis.

Andrey Rozhnov of Frishberg & Partners
Mon, 27th Apr -- With food prices rising across the globe, adventurous foreign investors can find excellent business opportunities in Ukraine's agricultural sector despite (or perhaps due to?) the global economic crisis. Known as "the breadbasket of Europe," Ukraine still boasts enormous land reserves that can grow various grains, seeds, fruits and vegetables, as well as support livestock. And due to the crisis, at last everything and everyone is available for sale or rent at rock-bottom prices.