Latest Updates

Uranium: what the explosion in prices means for the nuclear industry

The primary fuel for nuclear plants was sliding for much of the 2010s, with no signs of a major turnaround. Yet since mid-August, prices have surged by around 60% as investors and speculators scramble to snap up the commodity.

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Russia's Renaissance Insurance hopes to raise $290mn with IPO

One of Russia’s leading privately owned insurance companies, Renaissance Insurance Group, has announced that it will IPO on Moscow Exchange (MOEX), the company said on September 27.

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LONG READ: How a V-shaped market and ageing pipes and fields sent gas prices soaring

Russia has been accused of cutting gas supplies to Europe to force the EU to certify its new Nord Stream 2 pipeline, but most of the record-breaking prices can be explained by steep V-shaped market forces and ageing fields and pipelines.

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Russian petrochemical giant Sibur merges with rival TAIF

Russia’s biggest petrochemicals company Sibur has closed a deal to take over 100% of its Tatarstan-based rival TAIF in an equity swap that will leave the shareholders of TAIF with 15% of the merged company and bonds.

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bneGREEN: Green Deal, CBAM poses high risks to poorer African, Eastern European countries

The EU’s Green Deal and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will hit the EU’s trading partners in Africa and non-EU Eastern Europe particularly hard.

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bneGREEN: Western Balkans power plants in doubt after China to drop overseas coal projects

What Chinese President Xi Jinping’s commitment not to back new coal-fired power plants abroad means for Bosnia and Serbia’s plans to invest into more coal power capacity.

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ISTANBUL BLOG: Markets search in vain for logic as Turkey cuts rates

All but one of 23 surveyed economists said central bank wouldn’t do it, but it did it. Baffling ‘Erdoganomics’ pulling strings in the background. Hyperinflation may lurk around corner.

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COMMENT: Risk premiums in Central Europe during the COVID era do surprisingly well

In times of crisis there is a fight to quality by bond traders who are keen to reduce their risks. However, in this crisis the countries of Central Europe have done surprisingly well thanks to ECB support.

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ING: Romania economy cooling, looking for new drivers

With the rapid economic recovery phase now behind us and the peak of the fourth COVID wave just ahead, the Romanian economy is starting to feel the need for additional growth drivers.

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A pandemic boost but challenges to overcome for Bulgaria’s online retailers

Hungarian opposition leaders clash in second televised debate

Montenegro: The agritourism boom

A pandemic boost but challenges to overcome for Bulgaria’s online retailers

Online vendors of goods got a pandemic boost in Bulgaria, but when the lockdowns were lifted, many people simply went back to the shops.

Hungarian opposition leaders clash in second televised debate

Debate took place as opposition parties are holding the country’s first-ever primary to select candidates for 106 constituencies and pick their leader to challenge Hungary’s strongman Viktor Orban.

Montenegro: The agritourism boom

In countries like Montenegro, more and more tourists have decided to venture inland and swap the comfort of seaside hotel beds for old wooden huts, also known as “katuns”, used in the past by nomadic herders, writes the EBRD.

News

Nato troops step up presence on Kosovo-Serbian border

Tensions have reached a 10-year high since new rules set by Pristina forced Serbian drivers to change their number plates to enter Kosovo.

Stranded ship loaded with fertilisers threatens Bulgarian coast

Environmental groups fear the Vera Su may already be leaking cargo of nitrogen fertilisers and diesel fuel into Yailata protected area as officials fail to act.

Tajikistan ‘receives reports of Taliban allies making plans for incursion’

Neighbouring country to Afghanistan thought to be hosting resistance leaders who may be seeking to regroup.

Erdogan issues S-400 threats after unhappy time in New York

Turkish leader did not get to meet Joe Biden, but he is about to meet Vladimir Putin.

Poland records 130,000 excess deaths in past 12 months as pandemic deepens demographic crisis

The government’s flagship welfare programme, the universal payout of €109 monthly per every child under 18, has not resulted in any sustained increase in the number of births.

Nato troops step up presence on Kosovo-Serbian border

17 hours ago

Stranded ship loaded with fertilisers threatens Bulgarian coast

1 day ago

Tajikistan ‘receives reports of Taliban allies making plans for incursion’

1 day ago

Erdogan issues S-400 threats after unhappy time in New York

1 day ago

Poland records 130,000 excess deaths in past 12 months as pandemic deepens demographic crisis

1 day ago

More News

Tech

Romanian online retailer Elefant repays bond before planned IPO

Elefant.ro is reportedly planning an IPO on the Bucharest Stock Exchange in November.

Croatia reports dozens of state-sponsored cyber attacks in 2020

Most attacks were attempts to break into the information and communication systems of the foreign and European affairs ministry and the defence ministry.

Russian mobile operator MTS to invest $100mn in AI startups across the world

MTS AI, the artificial intelligence arm of Russian telco MTS, is launching an international acceleration programme and venture fund to invest in AI startups across the world.

Croatia’s Span starts trading after first IPO by local IT company on Zagreb exchange in 18 years

Span raised €13mn to fund its expansion in Croatia and abroad.

Russian Softline pursues international expansion in Baltic states, Belarus, Egypt

Softline, an international solution and service provider with Russian roots, is pursuing its international expansion with two deals announced this month.

Romanian online retailer Elefant repays bond before planned IPO

10 hours ago

Croatia reports dozens of state-sponsored cyber attacks in 2020

17 hours ago

Russian mobile operator MTS to invest $100mn in AI startups across the world

1 day ago

Croatia’s Span starts trading after first IPO by local IT company on Zagreb exchange in 18 years

5 days ago

Russian Softline pursues international expansion in Baltic states, Belarus, Egypt

5 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

Perspectives | Will international law help resolve the Karabakh conflict?

A case filed by Armenia against Azerbaijan in the International Court of Justice could have significant implications for the conflict. And it carries risks for both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

ING: ECB’s push for net-zero carbon will grow ESG credit

In the push for reducing carbon, significant investment will be necessary, and in turn, funding will be required. This will provide growth for the credit market, and in particular for anything associated with ESG.

STOLYPIN: Communists face new realities as United Russia steals their votes

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation massively improved its standing following the elections for a new Duma, but was robbed of the much larger share it actually won. The question now is what – if anything – can the KPRF do?

MITTELEUROPEAN INSIGHTS: Hungary's surprise debt issuance demonstrates the EU's financial whip is not working

Hungary's big return to the international bond market shows it is expecting a lengthy spat with the EU but it also makes financial sense.

Chinese geneticists link Kyrgyz to Pakistanis, while raising thorny ethical questions

The DNA was collected in western China’s police state, Xinjiang. Could the subjects have said no without fearing retribution?

Perspectives | Will international law help resolve the Karabakh conflict?

3 days ago

ING: ECB’s push for net-zero carbon will grow ESG credit

4 days ago

STOLYPIN: Communists face new realities as United Russia steals their votes

6 days ago

MITTELEUROPEAN INSIGHTS: Hungary's surprise debt issuance demonstrates the EU's financial whip is not working

10 days ago

Chinese geneticists link Kyrgyz to Pakistanis, while raising thorny ethical questions

14 days ago

More Opinion

Data

Russian banks extend profits in August, on track to earn a record RUB2.5 trillion this year

The sector's net profit in August amounted to RUB244bn with a return on capital of 26% in annual terms. The profits were 7% more than the July result of RUB229bn.

Russia’s PPI inflation up 1.5% to 28.6% in August

The inflation of Russian consumer prices has soared to uncomfortable highs, but those of producer prices have grown even faster, although the pace of growth has slowed somewhat in the last two months.

Montenegro’s economy posts strong 19% y/y growth in 2Q21, higher than EU average

Montenegro’s GDP growth was much higher than the EU average of 14.2%, as it recovered from a steep contraction in 2Q20.

Russia’s Duma elections statistics: the comet effect and the Moscow blob

The Russian physicist and election statistics expert Sergey Shpilkin has released another two charts on voting patterns in the recent Duma elections that show a “comet effect” and a “Moscow blob”.

Romania and Latvia's car ownership rates among lowest in Europe

The lowest motorisation rates were found in Romania (357 cars per thousand people), Latvia (381 cars) and Hungary (390 cars).

Russian banks extend profits in August, on track to earn a record RUB2.5 trillion this year

11 hours ago

Russia’s PPI inflation up 1.5% to 28.6% in August

1 day ago

Montenegro’s economy posts strong 19% y/y growth in 2Q21, higher than EU average

2 days ago

Russia’s Duma elections statistics: the comet effect and the Moscow blob

4 days ago

Romania and Latvia's car ownership rates among lowest in Europe

4 days ago

More Data

Features

Quantifying the Caucasus’ gains from BRI trade

Two new papers find that Georgia and Azerbaijan would gain more from improving trade with their neighbours than pursing a place on the Belt and Road.

Russian retail investors “shoot the moon” using social media to pick stocks

Russia’s retailed equity boom is gathering momentum and it is, like elsewhere, increasingly being driven by social media, according to a survey carried out by VTB Capital called “To the moon: Scoring social stock sentiment."

New study adds to Caucasus’ brag sheet: Cradle of lettuce

Geneticists say the popular vegetable was first domesticated in the region.

Shurnukh: face to face with the enemy in Armenia’s newly divided border village

Villagers endure loss of livestock that wander across new frontier and frustration of knowing that reaching the rest of their country by road means crossing into Azerbaijan.

Georgia flooded with leaked surveillance recordings of clergy

The massive release of “kompromat” focused on the country’s powerful church but also provided evidence of state snooping on journalists, politicians and diplomats.

Quantifying the Caucasus’ gains from BRI trade

15 hours ago

Russian retail investors “shoot the moon” using social media to pick stocks

2 days ago

New study adds to Caucasus’ brag sheet: Cradle of lettuce

5 days ago

Shurnukh: face to face with the enemy in Armenia’s newly divided border village

6 days ago

Georgia flooded with leaked surveillance recordings of clergy

7 days ago

More Features

Blogs

ISTANBUL BLOG: Paris Agreement ratification becomes a no-brainer for Erdogan

President faces an election by 2023 and millions of Turkish teenagers who will vote for the first time know their country has just been through a summer of climate change hell.

MOSCOW BLOG: Why are there no mass street protests after Russia's rigged Duma election?

On August 9 last year Belarus erupted into mass protests within hours of the polls closing on the massively falsified presidential elections. Russia just had similarly rigged elections but there has been no reaction by the population.

BUCHAREST BLOG: Romania’s anti-corruption struggle still inspiring its neighbours

With relatively few true success stories in the fight against corruption in emerging Europe, the efforts of the Romanian DNA to bring corrupt officials to book remain one of the few shining lights of the anti-corruption struggle in the region.

BALKAN BLOG: Bulgaria’s Harvard-educated saviours-in-waiting

The interim government’s success in rooting out corruption turned its ministers into national heroes. Now two of the top technocrats are running for parliament.

ISTANBUL BLOG: ‘Core’ blimey guvnor

Turkey’s monetary policy chaos has deepened following a strange presentation by the central bank chief. Analysts are scrambling to update their expectations.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Paris Agreement ratification becomes a no-brainer for Erdogan

5 days ago

MOSCOW BLOG: Why are there no mass street protests after Russia's rigged Duma election?

7 days ago

BUCHAREST BLOG: Romania’s anti-corruption struggle still inspiring its neighbours

9 days ago

BALKAN BLOG: Bulgaria’s Harvard-educated saviours-in-waiting

11 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: ‘Core’ blimey guvnor

15 days ago

More Blogs

bneGREEN

bneGREEN: Greenwashing: regulators flex muscles as the market remains in flux

Defining a green investment is crucial to boosting the expansion of renewable energy and preventing the mis-selling of investments by so-called greenwashing, whereby the environmental impact of a product is misrepresented.

bneGREEN: Russia seeks measures to facilitate decarbonisation

The Russian government intends to develop a system of support measures, including fiscal ones, to facilitate the introduction of green technologies and emission reductions for businesses, announces First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov.

bneGREEN: Montenegro cancels €54mn Pljevlja TPP reconstruction plan, to focus on renewable energy

Ministry says Podgorica to scrap reconstruction of power plant at centre of conflict with Energy Community.

SCO leaders tell West to bite bullet and hand billions to Taliban

With Afghanistan on brink of humanitarian and economic hell, it might be that only access to capital frozen abroad can stop the country becoming an incurable narco-state that is a hive of terrorism.

bneGREEN: Serbia issued debut €1bn green Eurobond

First green Eurobond from the Western Balkans to finance environmental protection and climate change mitigation projects as Serbia pursues green transition.

bneGREEN: Greenwashing: regulators flex muscles as the market remains in flux

5 days ago

bneGREEN: Russia seeks measures to facilitate decarbonisation

6 days ago

bneGREEN: Montenegro cancels €54mn Pljevlja TPP reconstruction plan, to focus on renewable energy

6 days ago

SCO leaders tell West to bite bullet and hand billions to Taliban

9 days ago

bneGREEN: Serbia issued debut €1bn green Eurobond

11 days ago

More bneGREEN

Latest Updates

News

Tensions have reached a 10-year high since new rules set by Pristina forced Serbian drivers to change their number plates to enter Kosovo.

Environmental groups fear the Vera Su may already be leaking cargo of nitrogen fertilisers and diesel fuel into Yailata protected area as officials fail to act.

Neighbouring country to Afghanistan thought to be hosting resistance leaders who may be seeking to regroup.

Turkish leader did not get to meet Joe Biden, but he is about to meet Vladimir Putin.

The government’s flagship welfare programme, the universal payout of €109 monthly per every child under 18, has not resulted in any sustained increase in the number of births.

Tech

Elefant.ro is reportedly planning an IPO on the Bucharest Stock Exchange in November.

Most attacks were attempts to break into the information and communication systems of the foreign and European affairs ministry and the defence ministry.

MTS AI, the artificial intelligence arm of Russian telco MTS, is launching an international acceleration programme and venture fund to invest in AI startups across the world.

Span raised €13mn to fund its expansion in Croatia and abroad.

Softline, an international solution and service provider with Russian roots, is pursuing its international expansion with two deals announced this month.

Opinion

A case filed by Armenia against Azerbaijan in the International Court of Justice could have significant implications for the conflict. And it carries risks for both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In the push for reducing carbon, significant investment will be necessary, and in turn, funding will be required. This will provide growth for the credit market, and in particular for anything associated with ESG.

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation massively improved its standing following the elections for a new Duma, but was robbed of the much larger share it actually won. The question now is what – if anything – can the KPRF do?

Hungary's big return to the international bond market shows it is expecting a lengthy spat with the EU but it also makes financial sense.

The DNA was collected in western China’s police state, Xinjiang. Could the subjects have said no without fearing retribution?

Data

The sector's net profit in August amounted to RUB244bn with a return on capital of 26% in annual terms. The profits were 7% more than the July result of RUB229bn.

The inflation of Russian consumer prices has soared to uncomfortable highs, but those of producer prices have grown even faster, although the pace of growth has slowed somewhat in the last two months.

Montenegro’s GDP growth was much higher than the EU average of 14.2%, as it recovered from a steep contraction in 2Q20.

The Russian physicist and election statistics expert Sergey Shpilkin has released another two charts on voting patterns in the recent Duma elections that show a “comet effect” and a “Moscow blob”.

The lowest motorisation rates were found in Romania (357 cars per thousand people), Latvia (381 cars) and Hungary (390 cars).

Features

Two new papers find that Georgia and Azerbaijan would gain more from improving trade with their neighbours than pursing a place on the Belt and Road.

Russia’s retailed equity boom is gathering momentum and it is, like elsewhere, increasingly being driven by social media, according to a survey carried out by VTB Capital called “To the moon: Scoring social stock sentiment."

Geneticists say the popular vegetable was first domesticated in the region.

Villagers endure loss of livestock that wander across new frontier and frustration of knowing that reaching the rest of their country by road means crossing into Azerbaijan.

The massive release of “kompromat” focused on the country’s powerful church but also provided evidence of state snooping on journalists, politicians and diplomats.

Blogs

President faces an election by 2023 and millions of Turkish teenagers who will vote for the first time know their country has just been through a summer of climate change hell.

On August 9 last year Belarus erupted into mass protests within hours of the polls closing on the massively falsified presidential elections. Russia just had similarly rigged elections but there has been no reaction by the population.

With relatively few true success stories in the fight against corruption in emerging Europe, the efforts of the Romanian DNA to bring corrupt officials to book remain one of the few shining lights of the anti-corruption struggle in the region.

The interim government’s success in rooting out corruption turned its ministers into national heroes. Now two of the top technocrats are running for parliament.

Turkey’s monetary policy chaos has deepened following a strange presentation by the central bank chief. Analysts are scrambling to update their expectations.

bneGREEN

Defining a green investment is crucial to boosting the expansion of renewable energy and preventing the mis-selling of investments by so-called greenwashing, whereby the environmental impact of a product is misrepresented.

The Russian government intends to develop a system of support measures, including fiscal ones, to facilitate the introduction of green technologies and emission reductions for businesses, announces First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov.

Ministry says Podgorica to scrap reconstruction of power plant at centre of conflict with Energy Community.

With Afghanistan on brink of humanitarian and economic hell, it might be that only access to capital frozen abroad can stop the country becoming an incurable narco-state that is a hive of terrorism.

First green Eurobond from the Western Balkans to finance environmental protection and climate change mitigation projects as Serbia pursues green transition.

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