Russia
Russian equity market on hold until US elections pass
Russia's equity markets are trading sideways as investors wait for the US presidential elections to pass, but some investors are already taking positions in the blue chips in anticipation of a mini-re-rating that could happen afterwards.
BRICKS & MORTAR: Residential real estate sales soar on back of the government’s mortgage subsidy programme
The coronacrisis has hit the Russian construction business hard, but residential development is booming thanks to a generous 6.5% subsidised mortgage scheme the government introduced and has just extended for another year.
COMMENT: Improving sentiment in global markets amidst uncertainty
The global economic recovery continued throughout the quarter, and the OECD now expects world GDP for 2020 to contract by only 4.5%, compared with 6% in their previous forecast from June. Equity markets have done better than expected.
Russian residential real estate developer Samolet announces IPO price range, shares placed on MOEX ready to trade
The new kid on the Russian listed residential real estate developer’s block, Samolet Group, has announced the price range for an IPO on Moscow Exchange (MOEX). Trading starts on October 29
COLCHIS: Georgia’s Karabakh conundrum
As the death toll mounts among both Armenians and Azeris in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, the situation in nearby Georgia feels a million miles away. In the throes of both a parliamentary election and a growing Covid-19 epidemic, the fact
STOLYPIN: If Lavrov goes, can we hope for better from Russia’s diminished foreign ministry?
Is Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s time really up? And if so, will this free the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MID) from the last vestiges of diplomacy, or allow it to regain some of the relevance it has lost since 2014?
25th day of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict brings little to no sign of peace
Prospects of Azerbaijani offensive into heavily populated core of enclave are reportedly rising. Turkey calls Minsk mediation group "brain dead".
Russia knocked Turkish drones out of sky in Armenia claims report
Also amid Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, another report says Russia has deployed a “large” number of border guards to work with Armenian counterparts assigned to protect Armenia’s only border with Iran.
Russia's regulator to create a new digital currency
The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has announced plans to introduce "the digital ruble" as an alternative to cryptocurrencies that are banned in the country.
Russian IT companies push for tax privileges
Companies from various segments of the Russian IT sector are lobbying to be included in a tax privilege scheme referred to as a "tax manoeuvre," which aims to make the sector more competitive.
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Armenia ‘finds Canadian components on Turkish drone downed in Nagorno-Karabakh’
Canada lately banned such military exports to Turkey. Armenian PM urges international community to follow its example.
Azerbaijani, Armenian foreign ministers to ‘meet Pompeo in Washington’
Possibility of trilateral session not ruled out as hopes rise for new effort to bring Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to an end.
Top international bond fund blacklists Russia and peers for poor ESG scores
Top performing Candriam SRI Bond Emerging Markets Fund that has $1.5bn AUM has cut Russia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and China from its list of allowed investments due to the country’s poor performance on environmental, social and governance (ESG)
Nagorno-Karabakh forces quoted as saying ceasefire generally held on October 18
Day, however, sees angry exchanges with Armenia and Azerbaijan blaming each other for breaching humanitarian truce.
Second attempt at Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire declared
Agreement announced on day Azerbaijan accuses Armenia of killing at least 13 civilians in Scud missile strike on residential buildings in Ganja.
Amid war, Armenians closely watching the signals from Russia
The messaging from Moscow has been pro-Armenia but critical of its government. And some Armenians are questioning their leaders’ flirtation, as mild as it’s been, with the West.
Russian internet major Yandex pulls plug on $5.5bn deal to buy Tinkoff Bank
Russian internet major Yandex said the negotiations on acquiring and merging with banking TCS Group have been terminated, bringing an abrupt end to one of the most anticipated deals in Russia this year.
MOSCOW BLOG: Kremlin launches charm offensive ahead of looming Biden victory in US elections, end of the START missile treaty
Russia is suddenly making nice with its foes, as the Kremlin seems to be launching a charm offensive ahead of the increasingly likely victory in the US presidential elections of Joe Biden.
Karabakh coverage looks at Turkish military exports to Baku and possible execution of Armenian soldiers
Azerbaijan’s lobbying operation in Washington and Aliyev’s denial that Turkey has sent Syrian mercenaries to battle front also focus of media on day 19 of conflict.
Russia’s Watcom shopping index begins to fall again as coronavirus infections hit new record highs
The Watcom shopping index that measures foot traffic in Moscow’s biggest malls has started to fall again as new infections of coronavirus (COVID-19) hit new record highs.