News
MOSCOW BLOG: Is the arrest of US fund manager Michael Calvey a litmus test for Russia?
How much damage will the February 14 arrest of US fund manager Michael Calvey on “large-scale embezzlement” charges do to Russia's investment case?
Ukraine comedian Zelensky lead in the presidential election polls increases
Electoral support for Ukrainian comic Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s presidential candidacy is growing, according to the latest poll results published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on February 14.
Turkish 3-year sukuk raises $2bn at 5.8% on soaring demand
Erdogan administration attempting to shape more favourable economic picture ahead of elections. But latest unemployment data shows worrying signs of fallout from currency crisis.
Mike Calvey, founder of top Russian private equity fund Barings Vostok and Russia’s most famous fund manager, arrested on fraud charges
Local reports say detention relates to theft of 2.5bn rubles. His unsettling arrest a hard blow to fragile investment scene. Russian sovereign wealth fund chief says he would vouch for him.
Russia’s Gazprom mulling a second Turk Stream pipeline
Gazprom might construct a Turk Stream 2 gas pipeline if there is sufficient demand and the company receives all the necessary approvals, says Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller.
Ukrainian president Poroshenko lobbying judges in event of election loss, MP says
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is lobbying two loyal judges to remain on the Supreme Council of Justice should he lose the presidential elections, MP Serhiy Leshchenko of the Poroshenko Bloc alleged in a television news broadcast
As pips squeak in Turkey’s real sector central bank talks of “liquidity steps”
Latest data: industrial output worse than expected, C/A back in deficit but seen as “great number”.
MOSCOW BLOG: US threatens new round of sanctions but Russia is ready
Sanctions are back. There were four rounds of sanctions in 2018 that clearly did a lot of damage to Russia’s business and investment case, but ultimately they failed to produce their advertised goal: force the Kremlin to change its aggressive ways.
Moody’s assigns its first Uzbekistan long-term issuer rating at ‘B1
Moody’s Investors Service assigned its first ever long-term issuer rating to the Uzbek government at B1 with a stable outlook on February 13 ahead of the Uzbek Eurobond debut on the same day.
Uzbekistan’s eurobond debut proves smash hit
Reports indicate it was 8.5-times oversubscribed. However, some analysts caution drop well below face value could follow “feverish demand”.
Bribe-taking charge ‘filed against ex-Armenian president Kocharyan’
Kremlin notably mentioned last August that Vladimir Putin had called the accused with birthday wishes.
Turkey ‘cuts yield at 3-year USD sukuk auction to 5.9%’ on $3.5bn demand
Turkish 5-year CDS up 5% w/w and 76% y/y but down 16% m/m.
Belarus’s leading supermarket chain Eurotorg Holding reports strong results 2018, mulls second attempt at an IPO in 2019
The largest food retailer in Belarus, Eurotorg (aka Euroopt) released its unaudited operating results for the last quarter of 2018 and full year ended 31 December 2018 and is mulling a second attempt at an IPO in 2019, according to bne sources
Uzbekistan wants $1bn eurobond issue to pave way for regular debt sales
Fund managers told at roadshow Uzbek debt-to-GDP is around 20% and Tashkent would be comfortable with as high as 30%.
Ukrainian regional council head named suspect in Handziuk acid attack murder
Vladyslav Manher, the head of the Kherson Regional Council, was named a suspect in the murder of local civic activist Kateryna Handziuk, in what analysts say looks like a pre-election political move.
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Locals wonder if surprise S&P upgrade is in store for Turkey
Markets discuss what’s brought an ‘early spring’ to Turkish markets. BAML survey finds EM assets now seen as “most crowded trade”.
Russian government goes full circle on allowing kiosks to sell goods
Russia’s Deputy Minister of Production and Trade Victor Evtukhov made upbeat comments on the rollout of smaller retail formats as part of the government drive to encourage the growth of SMEs.
Poland concedes setback in quest to stop Nord Stream 2
Warsaw's hopes of stopping the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline were dashed, as Germany and France pushed through a compromise wording of amendments to EU’s gas market rules that will result in the weakening of the bloc’s joint control.
Hungary and the US sign defence cooperation agreement and agree on acquisition of military equipment
Relations became frosty amid the Obama administration's criticism of deteriorating rule of law and democracy in Hungary, but Washington is making a new push to ensure Hungary and other CEE states don't fall into the Russian camp.
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Erdogan cracks down on Turkey’s food “terror”: state stalls swinging votes with cheap veg
Pre-election strategy is to blame food inflation on ruthless retailers.