Opinion
COMMENT: The new Romanian leu 15 years on
The re-denomination of the Romanian leu in 2005 had lasting economic and emotional consequences for the population and for domestic and international markets.
STOLYPIN: Russia’s opportunistic MENA policy: scavenging, not strategising
One crucial difference between today’s Russia and both the USSR and the US is that it will not – cannot – pay the price of empire, whether in blood or treasure.
CAPITAL ECONOMICS: A deep dive into Turkey’s latest credit boom
Turkey’s credit boom that started towards the end of last year has been turbocharged in recent months and this should provide some welcome support to the economy as it emerges from the coronavirus crisis. But will it go too far?
COMMENT: Borrower beware: Uzbekistan’s dollar debt binge could spell long-term trouble
Uzbekistan’s inaugural $1bn Eurobond in February of last year was hailed as a landmark event for Uzbekistan. Now its on the map for international creditors, the government need to avoid a borrowing binge that will end in a debt trap.
COMMENT: Smolii’s Resignation and the soft coup underway in Ukraine
The resignation of Yakiv Smolii as governor of the NBU could be taken as the end of serious reforms in Ukraine and a "soft coup" that puts the old guard back in charge of the country
COMMENT: Five reasons why Zelenskiy is failing in Ukraine: Zelenskiy faces a political future that is no laughing matter
Volodymyr Zelenskiy's presidency seems to have gone off the tracks but no one is quite sure what is going on. Is he a puppet or just out of his depth? Melinda Haring of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council offers five theories.
COMMENT: Finding a third Musketeer to run the National Bank of Ukraine
The governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Yakiv Smolii abruptly quit on July 1, sending a shock through the investment community. Now he has gone, who will replace him?
COMMENT: Yanukovych’s “Own Goal;” Zelenskiy’s “Lesson Learned”
In September 2013, at the Annual “YES” Conference in Yalta, former President Yanukovych said: ”We have to move toward European integration,” causing participants to dance on the beach. He didn't do it and sparked the Maidan revolution
BEYOND THE BOSPHORUS: Tobin tax means it’s back to the good old money changing days at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar
Prying officials also driving business clients away from banks.
TURKEY INSIGHT: Morgan Stanley warns Turks MSCI Frontier Markets status may be around corner
At the same time, ING discordantly claims it senses possible turning point for foreigners’ interest in Turkish bonds.
COMMENT: Lukashenko’s penultimate elections
President Alexander Lukashenko’s Belarus has long been a success story in the post-Soviet world, but now he is in trouble facing country-wide protests. He will probably win the August elections, but how long can he hang on to power?
BEYOND THE BOSPHORUS: Erdogan becomes top shareholder in Turkcell
Telia seen as selling stake at less than 50% of market value. Analyst asks: “How did a partly Swedish-state-owned co get so deeply embroiled in Turkey’s authoritarian decline?”
COMMENT: Global remittances to suffer a blow from COVID-19
Instead of triggering an increase in remittance payments, which is typical during times of crisis, the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has caused migrant payments to households in developing countries to slow dramatically.
Europe and Nato’s Libya nightmare outcome would leave Russian and Turkish military bases staring across the Med
Ankara reportedly discussing lasting military presence with Tripoli ally. Russia has flown fighter jets to desert sites controlled by rebel forces.
TURKEY INSIGHT: Debt scales tip in virus-hit April as nearly million Turks take out first ever bank loan
Data on financially hellish month also shows 38,000 used a credit card for the first time and a ‘wide-scope’ unemployment rate of 39%.
OPINION: Kazakhstan is ready to be rediscovered by British businesses post-Brexit
An important step towards charting the UK’s post-Brexit course and galvanising post-COVID growth would be to forge new international partnerships and reinvent the time-tested ones, writes Kazakhstan's ambassador to the UK Erlan Idrissov.