Ukraine’s last chance to fulfil Minsk accords is in November Prystaiko says

The last chance to fulfil the Minsk II accords will come in November according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko in comments made to Reuters on October 14.

Russian businesses’ lack of trust in government holding back crucial investment says finance minister Siluanov

Underinvestment is putting a brake on Russia’s growth, but the problem’s not a lack of cash, it’s Russian business people not trusting the government, according to Finance Minister Anton Siluanov.

Belarusian supermarket chain Eurotorg reports 5% increase in sales to $1.2bn in 6M19

The biggest supermarket chain in Belarus Eurotorg (aka Euroopt) reported that sales were up 11.9% year-on-year to BYN2.4bn in local currency terms and up 5.1% y/y to $1.2bn in dollar equivalent in the first six months of this year.

Vote counting in Kosovo election suspended after ballot papers suspected laced with chemical agent

Vote counting has been suspended in Kosovo, Radio Free Europe informed, after 26 Central Election Commission (CEC) officials sought medical help for the allergic reaction occurred after opening five ballot boxes from Serbia.

Citigroup Russia markets CEO departs as Wall Street retreats in Moscow

Alexei Bolshakov, Citigroup’s Head of Russian Equities and Chief Executive of its local Global Markets division, has left the bank as Wall Street accelerates its retreat in Moscow, bne IntelliNews can reveal.

Gaming software company Digitain to launch startup hub in Yerevan

Samsung announces €1.2bn expansion of Hungarian EV battery plant

Ambitious expansion plans for the plant near Budapest will make it one of the largest in the world, as Hungary becomes a centre of EV battery production for Europe's growing electric car industry.

Russian taxi market seen growing 6% to $11bn in 2019

Expansion ahead, but the sharp growth phase that was provoked by the entry of taxi aggregators through lower prices and more passengers is waning, says a study from the Analytic Centre.

Moldova plans to extend operating licence to telco in separatist Transnistria

Plans to issue licence to Interdnestrkom is part of steps towards settlement of Transnistria conflict, but Chisinau-based telcos Orange Moldova and Moldcell say they should be compensated for lost business.

Hungary utility-scale solar capacity reaches 1.1GW

Hungary can rely on two energy sources, nuclear and solar energy to meet the climate goals set out in the Paris Agreement, said President Janos Ader recently.

OPINION: Igor-nomics brings Moldova to the brink of disaster

Moldovan President Igor Dodon has sought to rebrand himself as neutral between east and west and an economic liberal, but his current actions — and past online musings — tell a different story.

The Eurasian Union meets Velvet Revolution in Armenia

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian managed a delicate balancing act while hosting his authoritarian allies in Yerevan.

TURKEY INSIGHT: Albayrak proclaims “soft landing” and sunlit uplands ahead, but it doesn’t add up

High growth, low inflation, a small fiscal deficit, a small current account deficit… the Erdogan administration’s latest medium-term economic programme has it all.

VIENNEAST COMPASS: Hungary punching above its weight in regional SEE politics

The incoming president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, took an unexpected decision of nominating Hungarian Laszlo Trocsanyi as commissioner for expansion as Hungary increases its influence in the region

ALACO DISPATCHES: US-European rift over sanctions threatens their effectiveness

Some American measures are raising hackles in Europe, militating against future coordinated action.

IMF improves his outlook on Polish growth in 2019

Poland’s economy will expand 4% in 2019, from 5.1% last year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its latest World Economic Outlook published on October 15.

Slovak August's industrial output recorded the biggest drop since July 2016

Slovakia ́s industrial production recorded a year-on-year decline of 8.1% in August, the biggest drop since 2012, mostly due to a 9.5% decrease in industrial manufacturing, following a 2.8% increase in July, the Slovak Statistical Office (SSO) announ

Czech unemployment rate remains low at 2.7% in September

Czech unemployment remained at 2.7% for the third consecutive month in September, data from the Labour Office of the Czech Republic released on October 8 shows .

Growth already past its peak after Western Balkans’ brief blossoming

Growth has started slowing in most of the Western Balkans economies after an all too brief period of rapid economic acceleration, finds a new report from the World Bank.

Ukraine gross reserves decline 2.6% in September

Ukraine’s gross international reserves declined 2.6% m/m, or $577mn, to $21.4bn in September after increasing 0.8% m/m in August, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) reported on October 7. The decline was due to high repayments on state debt.

Samolet residential real estate business is flying

Russia’s residential real estate market is recovering as the economy emerges from several years of crisis. Incomes have been stagnant for six years, but as interest rates fall housing is becoming more affordable.

Romania’s City Insurance aims to be largest local player in Central, Southeast Europe

Romania’s largest insurance firm City Insurance has long-range ambitions to become the largest regional player, but first it sees huge potential in its home market amid the emergence of Romania’s middle class.

TURKEY’S SYRIA INCURSION: How much Kurdish blood will Erdogan risk getting on Trump’s hands?

As attack on abandoned US allies starts markets also wonder whether bipartisan bid in Washington to hit Turks with sanctions will succeed.

M&A deals decline in Central, Southeast and Eastern Europe in 1H19

Fall in volume and value of deals revealed in CMS/Mergermarket report is in line with decline seen across Europe as economic slowdown, Brexit uncertainty and global trade wars hit sentiment.

CEE monthly bond wrap: Eastern Europe bond issues pick up in September, while Central Europe still on holiday

Bond markets in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) had a strong month in September with a total of 19 Eurobond issues, while the summer doldrums spilled over from August in Central Europe where there were only two issues.

ISTANBUL BLOG: How far could some Kurd killing go to saving Erdogan’s skin?

Turkey’s president and Donald Trump have put on a real pals’ act in recent months. The US president came through on Syria for the Turkish strongman in a big way, but with the tanks massing and Republicans fuming, threw in some complications.

BALKAN BLOG: Balkan peace processes a victim of divisions between Europe and US

The discord between the US and the European Union since the election of Donald Trump as US president is holding back efforts to keep the peace and normalise relations within the former Yugoslavia.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Erdogan wants 5% growth out of his cheap money mount but is he flogging a dead horse?

With Turkish corporate sector debt having doubled to 70% of GDP since 2008, the Turkish strongman may struggle to pump through enough credit.

KYIV BLOG: What’s to be done about those who are to blame in Ukraine?

Attention has been dramatically refocused from the high hopes from Zelenskiy’s radically anti-corruption and reformist legislative agenda to a single question: what is his relationship with his oligarchic backer Ihor Kolomoisky?

KYIV BLOG: Zelenskiy's honeymoon with foreign investors is over as NBU ex-governor Gontareva's dacha burns

The arson attack is the latest in a string of attacks on the former central banker, her family and the bank she nationalised, PrivatBank.