Features
Two-thirds of Russian firms want a stronger ruble
Two-thirds (66%) of enterprises in the Russian manufacturing sector think that a stronger ruble will improve their profits, according to an annual survey conducted by the RBK newspaper.
Ukrainian farmers turn to Donbas veterans for protection from raiders
Unarmed veterans are helping farmers fight back against asset thieves and the authoritities don't like it.
New Romanian government puts investors on fiscal rollercoaster
Investors in Romania typically expect a bumpy ride when it comes to the tax regime, with frequently changing rules often motivated by political considerations, but recently it's become really turbulent even by Romanian standards
Only one of eight Ukrainian power assets for privatisation likely to be sold, say analysts
Skepticism is rife as the government in Kyiv again attempts to power up its stalled privatisation drive.
Russian textbook titan trains to become all-round education provider
Prosveshcheniye, Russia’s largest educational publisher, is looking to float on the Moscow Stock Exchange as early as next year to raise investment finance.
FINTECH: A Russian fintech revolution is coming
Russia is ranked third in the world for the use of financial technology services and bankers at the annual sector conference in St Petersburg this year said they are continuing to roll out new cutting edge services.
Ukraine food giant diversifies its way out of country's crisis
Astarta now makes half its sales from exports, while sugar makes up less than half its revenue mix.
Belarus recovery underway in January-June
Belarus is the laggard of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) as the rest of the region emerges from recession, but the economy is picking up a little steam mid-year.
Bulgaria’s Smart Organic takes a bigger bite of the protein bar market
Health food company uses EBRD loan to invest in factory to tap fast-growing international market.
Bodyguards Incorporated: the rise and fall of Putin's presidential guards' construction empire
The main job of Russia’s Federal Protective Service is to guard President Vladimir Putin, but until recently it ran a secret and highly profitable construction empire that collapsed after getting entangled with St Petersburg's richest oligarch.
MOSCOW BLOG: A tale of two countries – Russia vs Ukraine 1H17
Both countries have emerged from the crisis and are starting to recover, but Ukraine remains a lot more vulnerable than Russia to any shocks in the near future.
CHINA RISING: Our series of features on China's expansion ambitions
A focus on China’s growing interest in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia looking at the implications in terms of geopolitics as well as business and investment
Reconstruction of Moscow's city centre is hurting retailers but vacancy rates passed bottom
Reconstruction of the city centre is hurting retailers but vacancy rates seem to have passed bottom, according to real estate consultant JJL.
CHINA RISING: Beijing's insatiable appetite transforms Central Asian oil and gas flows
The Western grip on Central Asian oil and gas flows is weakening, and half of the volumes could go east by 2020, according to the IEA.
CHINA RISING: When sleeping giants meet
CEFC's acquisition of struggling Czech football club Slavia Praha has paid off spectacularly, but the rest of the mysterious Chinese group's investment plans have not fared so well.
CHINA RISING: Chinese investors compete for Bosnian coal projects
Industrial over-capacity at home has forced Chinese engineering conglomerates to seek out opportunities abroad, resulting in intense competition to build new power plants even in the small Balkan economies.
CHINA RISING: AIIB seeks to tackle Asia’s $1.7trn infrastructure gap
Asia's rapidly growing population and fast economic growth rates mean there is a pressing need to step up investment into infrastructure.
 Cropped.jpg)
CHINA RISING: Chinese funded highway drives up Montenegro’s debt burden
Its huge cost in comparison to Montenegro’s tiny economy has caused the Bar-Boljare motorway to ring alarm bells among international financial institutions and rating agencies.
CHINA RISING: Belt and Road Initiative helps shift Chinese investments to Eastern Europe
Chinese investments in Central and Southeast Europe are on an upward trend that is expected to accelerate as investors shift their attention towards the region.
Moldovan central bank hopes foreign investors will help turn banking sector around
The sale of stakes in two of Moldova's biggest banks could result in the entry of international banking groups that would change the face of the industry, Moldova's deputy central bank governor tells bne IntelliNews.