Eastern Europe / News
Russia’s RTS spring rally pauses as investors take profits
With no new money flowing into ETFs, Russia’s spring rally paused this week as investors took profits following a strong start to the year.
Ukraine’s population falls behind Poland’s for the first time, electronic census says 5mn people lost since 2000
Ukraine’s population fell behind that of Poland for the first time as an electronic census revealed the number of citizens had fallen by some 5mn people to 37.289mn since the last census in 2000.
Ukraine’s domestic bond market off to a strong start in 2020 as yields fall below 10%
Ukraine’s domestic bond market got off to a strong start in 2020 as heavy bidding at the weekly auction on January 22 depressed yields to 10%. A year ago Ukraine bonds were yielding 19%.
President of war-hit Ukraine offers 'investment nanny, tax holidays' to potential investors
Any potential investor who invests more than $100mn in Ukraine, will get a personal "guardian" from the government, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is at the Davos conference to talk up Ukraine’s investment case.
Russian Aeroflot carrier taking off for stellar 2020
Analysts are increasingly keen on the stocks of Russian national air carrier Aeroflot after it had a terrible 2019.
Russia’s RTS spring rally gets boost from new government
The spring rally that got under way at the start of the new year has received a boost from Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposed constitutional changes and the appointment of a new government, as both the RTS and Moex Russia index hit new highs
Ukraine president refuses PM resignation, slams high government salaries
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy refused to accept Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk resignation tendered last week and decided to give him "a chance if you resolve some things that are very important today and are of concern to our society"
Berlin summit agrees attempt to stabilise Libya truce but oil blockade overshadows progress
Foreign powers agreed at a summit in Berlin on January 19 to try to solidify the unstable truce in Libya between the internationally recognised government, which is backed by Turkey, and the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) forces of warlord Kh
Iran was spooked by US stealth fighter reports when it shot down airliner says Lavrov
Russian foreign minister says at least six American F-35 aircraft flying in Iranian border area at time Tehran was expecting response to missile strikes on Iraq bases.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk quits in midst of tape scandal criticising President Volodymyr Zelenskiy
Honcharuk quit his post on January 16 a few days after being caught on tape saying Zelenskiy knows nothing about the economy.
Head of Russian tax service Mikhail Mishustin appointed prime minister
The finale of a dramatic news day for Russia was the appointment of the head of the Russian tax office Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister to replace the outgoing Dmitry Medvedev, who resigned along with the whole government a few hours earlier.
UPDATED: Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and entire Russian government quit
In what looks like a coordinated piece of political theatre, Medvedev said he thought it was “appropriate” to leave after President Vladimir Putin announced changes to the constitution that would have given Medvedev a lot more power.
Erdogan warns he’ll “teach lesson” to Libya warlord Haftar if he resumes fighting Tripoli government
Turkish president angered that general departed Moscow without signing brokered ceasefire agreement.
Ukraine’s GDP warrants hit par as the country’s economic future brightens
The GDP warrants that Ukraine gave its sovereign bond holders as compensation for a 20% haircut have appreciated in price and hit par on January 14.
A maximum of RUB2-3bn are stolen from the Russian federal budget every year, says Kudrin
Audit Chamber Director Alexei Kudrin says a maximum of RUB2-3bn ($32.6-48bn) are stolen from the Russian federal budget annually, Vestnik reported on January 14.
A maximum of RUB2bn-3bn stolen from the Russian federal budget every year says Kudrin
The value of the Russian economy was $1.657 trillion in 2019, making the stealing equivalent to 1.9%-2.9% of GDP.
Moscow sees record housing built in 2019
Moscow saw a record of 4.96mn sqm of housing space completed in 2019, up by 40% year-on-year, and highest level of residential construction since the 1965 mass housing blitz carried out by Nikita Khrushchev.
Iran’s admission it shot down airliner with missile sparks anti-regime street unrest
Pro-regime protesters, meanwhile, set alight union jack after UK ambassador detained after leaving vigil for victims at which chanting started.
Russia real estate legends to raise €140mn for fund with focus on last mile warehouses for the e-commerce sector
Three of Russia’s best known veteran real estate businessmen have come together to form L.O.P. to develop urban warehousing that targets Russia’s booming last mile e-commerce sector.
House arrest for Baring Vostok Calvey and partners prolonged
Moscow’s Basmanny Court on January 9 prolonged the house arrest of Michael Calvey, US citizen and founder of leading Russian fund Baring Vostok private equity firm, until February 13.