Eastern Europe / News
Russian bank Otkritie significantly reduces its holding of Russia 2030 Eurobonds
Russian bank Otkritie significantly reduces its holding of Russia 2030 Eurobonds
Two in five Russians (39%) are teetotalers
Two in five Russians (39%) are teetotalers, according to a survey by (the state owned pollster, the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM).
Belarus government plans to spend $3.5bn to support machine building
The Belarusian government plans to spend $3.5bn to support machine building over the next four years. The sector is financially unsustainable and constantly losing employees, so experts say the plan is unlikely to make a difference.
Rise in Belarus minimum wage in regions to BYN1000 by late 2019 seen leading to devaluation
Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko is on a drive to improve the quality of life for his citizens but going about it old school style. His order to raise minimum wage in regions to BYN 1000 by late 2019 could prompt devaluation
Belarus in top three holiday spots popular with Russians
Belarus is in the top three spots popular with Russian holidaymakers, according to Yandex.Money, which analyzed the countries the Russians headed to for their breaks this summer.
MOSCOW BLOG: Propensity to protest spikes as Russians worry over wages and family
To Russians, wages, the economy and social policy are Russia's main challenges today, says state-owned pollster, the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM), and the grinding recession has led to a dramatic jump in the propensity to protest.
Eastern Europe winter harvest yields surprise on the upside
The winter harvests in Eastern Europe are all almost in and have surprised on the upside, causing wheat prices to drop in the middle of August.
Russia's Sberbank dramatically cuts mortgage rates
Sberbank has dramatically cut mortgage rates by 0.6-2 ppts to 7.4%-10% for the primary real estate market, and to 8.9%-10% for the secondary real estate market.
Russia has the most barriers to trade for European exporters
Russia has the most barriers to trade for European exporters, according to a report from the European Commission (EC). An EC report, which is based on information from European firms, identifies 372 barriers to trade currently in use.
Russian internet giant Yandex and Sberbank team up in $0.5bn joint venture
Joint e-commerce venture to be based on the Yandex.Market marketplace platform, but analysts are cautious given the internet company's lack of retail experience and previous failure to create a full-service e-commerce platform.
Russia central bank considers limiting companies' foreign borrowing in case of excess debt
Russian banks and companies have raised around $15bn YTD from the global markets, $13bn of which was placed by companies and only $2bn by banks.
Turkey’s Anadolu, AB InBev brew up merger to take on contracting Russian, Ukrainian markets
Turkey’s leading brewer Anadolu Efes announces initial agreement with world’s largest brewer AB InBev for 50:50 merger of Russia and Ukraine businesses, new enterprise to take on beer markets suffering longstanding decline.
Poland-born reformist head of Ukraine's rail monopoly resigns
Wojciech Balczun submitted his resignation after little more than a year at the helm of Ukrzaliznytsia citing a "negative PR-campaign and even sabotage" against him.
Russia pokes Georgia in eye with Putin visit to Abkhazia on war anniversary
Russian president vows continued Kremlin military and economic support for breakaway region prompting strong statements from Tbilisi and Nato.
Stateless Saakashvili resurfaces in Poland, Georgia petitions Warsaw for extradition
Georgia's stateless former president Mikheil Saakashvili turns up in Poland to attend Warsaw Uprising commemoration, insists he will journey back to Ukraine to fight withdrawal of citizenship.
Polish passport design provokes Lithuania and Ukraine
The new design proposed by the Polish home affairs ministry features depictions of the Ukrainian city of Lviv and Lithuanian capital Vilnius.
Belarus, China mull $500mn investment fund, closer cooperation
Relations between China and Belarus continue to develop as Beijing uses the small Eastern European state as a bridgehead into Europe. The two governments are mulling setting up a $500mn investment fund and a slew of new joint ventures
Russian sanction limbo begins new chapter as Trump signs bill
US President Donald Trump has signed into law a bill imposing tougher sanctions on Russia, North Korea, and Iran, that also limits his own ability to end those sanctions, ending weeks of uncertainty and opening a new chapter in the sanction regime
CEE/CIS economic hubs face $1.3 trillion infrastructure gap
The region's steepest gap - of $727bn - is in Russia where inadequate infrastructure spending in recent decades has hindered economic growth.