Eastern Europe / Data
Moscow’s Watcom shopping index almost back to normal as shoppers return to Moscow's malls
Moscow’s Watcom shopping index has recovered almost all of the ground lost during the lockdown in spring as Russian consumers have returned to the top malls in the capital.
Russian manufacturing PMI remains under pressure in July
The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Russia Manufacturing PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) has remained under pressure in July, posting 48.4, down from the 49.4 seen in June, IHS Markit reported on August 3.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has regained his lead in the popularity rankings over Russia’s regional governors
In March the governors overtook Putin in the popularity stakes with an approval rating of 65 vs Putin’s 63, but since then they have seen their popularity fall by 7pp
Russian consumer confidence crashed in 2Q20, business confidence starts to recover
Consumer confidence crashed in the second quarter of this year, while business confidence has started to recover after its nadir in May.
One in three Russian companies lost money over the first four months of this year
The share of unprofitable organisations in Russia in January-May 2020 amounted to 36%. At the same time, the profit of Russian enterprises fell by more than two times, according to Rosstat data.
Fat cats: new study shows corruption can be measured in kilos
A new study finds that the more overweight the politicians in a government from the former Soviet Union are, the more likely that government is to be corrupt.
Russian M&A market down to nine-year low in 1H20
M&A volume in 1H20 was only boosted by the finance ministry's purchase of 50% of Russia's largest bank Sberbank from the Central Bank of Russia for $33.9bn.
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Russia's Watcom Shopping Index continues recovery, DIY segment back to pre-crisis
Retail traffic is recovering faster than expected, as DIY retailers in particular benefitted from high demand for home and summer house improvements post-lockdown. Demand is expected to shift to fashion and lifestyle shopping later.
Russia’s Watcom Shopping Index regains three quarters of ground lost to coronacrisis
Russia’s Watcom Shopping Index has recovered three quarters of the ground lost during the coronacrisis, according to the latest data for week 26 of this year, after restrictions in Russia were eased in June.
New lockdowns imposed in Eurasia to fight rising coronavirus cases
Several countries in Central Asia, the South Caucasus and the Western Balkans are seeing a strong rise in daily new cases after the easing of restrictions.
Net foreign direct investment leaving Ukraine in 1Q20
There was a net outflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) from Ukraine in the first quarter of this year of $1,451mn, reversing the trend of inflows of the last several years, according to data from Ukrstat.