Latest Updates

TURKEY INSIGHT: Are these markets for real?

For now, Erdogan, the master of distraction, appears to have enough economic and political control. But, if behind the scenes he is digging as frantically as some observers believe, he’ll struggle to get out of his deep hole.

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COMMENT: Ukraine’s slow but steady westward trade path

Five years after the Maidan revolution, the DCFTA between the EU and Ukraine is turning out to be an important vehicle in the East European country’s gradual economic decoupling from Russia. It is also buttressing the its slow but steady reform path.

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FRONTIER MARKETS: Oltin fund to be first internationally listed Uzbek security

Specialist LSE listing to provide investors with chance to get in early on Uzbekistan’s move from Soviet-type economy to market economy.

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VISEGRAD BLOG: Poland’s PiS pays for domestic antics with marginalisation in Europe

Ex-PM Beata Szydlo failed twice to be elected head of the European Parliament’s committee on employment and social affairs in what seems to be the result of the ruling PiS's anti-EU sentiment in domestic politics.

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COMMENT: Southeast Europe the growth star in CEE banking, but the profit pool is elsewhere

The core message for bankers and investors active in the CEE region should be: close to old records, potential for more but watch out for late cycle phenomena.

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Turkmenistan exposed: Investors warned nation is “teetering on edge of catastrophe”

Despite people going hungry amid economic crisis ruling autocrats continue to pile money into vanity projects, while failing to pay contractors. Eight-lane ‘Turkmen Autobahn’ latest investment to raise eyebrows.

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COMMENT: Ukraine poised for a new strong start after July’s elections

Ukraine heads to the polls again for parliamentary elections on July 21, and expectations are building of another pro-reform vote to follow Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s landslide victory in the run off of the presidential election in April.

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Russian companies scramble to improve their ESG scores or face losing investors

"Environmental, social and governance" performance is becoming a hot topic amongst leading Russian companies and a way to reduce their "Russia risk" discount.

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MOSCOW BLOG: Putin at work at the illiberal G20 summit

The common wisdom is that Russian President Vladimir Putin is all about tactics and doesn't have a strategy. But things have changed. The collapse of the west has made it easy for Putin, who is capitalising on an improving hand.

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Western Balkans' climate to resemble US Deep South’s by 2050

Bulgaria picks French-German consortium as Sofia Airport concessionaire

Russia's president eases path to citizenship for all residents of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk regions

Western Balkans' climate to resemble US Deep South’s by 2050

Cities in Southeast Europe are forecast to see some of the sharpest increases in average temperatures of any major urban areas worldwide over the next 31 years.

Bulgaria picks French-German consortium as Sofia Airport concessionaire

Decision was unexpected as the transport ministry said a rival bidder — a consortium comprising France's Aeroports de Paris and Turkey's TAV — had offered the highest concession fee.

Russia's president eases path to citizenship for all residents of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk regions

Kyiv views the move as illegal and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman will appeal to other states to declare invalid such "fake" documents as well.

News

Ankara hits out as US cuts Turkey from F-35 fighter jet programme

Move in response to Erdogan administration buying Russian missile systems set to cost Nato member country $9bn in projected work share.

Macedonian PM dismisses 70 officials from state institutions in operation "Broom"

Cleanup operation launched after ruling coalition's disappointing performance in the first round of the recent presidential election.

Builder of Tallinn-Helsinki tunnel signs MOU with three Chinese contractors

The Chinese financing company Touchstone Capital Partners is providing €15bn funding for the project that will become part of Beijing's Belt and Road initiative to link Asia with Europe.

French President Macron pledges to restart Serbia-Kosovo dialogue

Macron says some external powers "have an interest" in making sure no deal is reached between Serbia and Kosovo, after normalisation talks stalled.

Hungarian investors redeem savings from investment funds to buy new superbond

Investment funds recorded a record outflow of capital in June as households ploughed their savings to the new Map Plus retail bonds, which offer the highest returns at all stages of maturity.

Ankara hits out as US cuts Turkey from F-35 fighter jet programme

1 day ago

Macedonian PM dismisses 70 officials from state institutions in operation "Broom"

1 day ago

Builder of Tallinn-Helsinki tunnel signs MOU with three Chinese contractors

2 days ago

French President Macron pledges to restart Serbia-Kosovo dialogue

2 days ago

Hungarian investors redeem savings from investment funds to buy new superbond

2 days ago

More News

Tech

Lithuania passes e-residency legislation to boost investment

Follows the trail blazed by nearby Estonia which has operated an e-residency system since 2014.

Hungarian and Czech super laser facilities to form consortium

Super laser research facilities in the two CEE countries will form a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), which is expected to start operating in January 2020.

Russian Yandex.Taxi snaps up Vezet assets from rival Mail.ru

The deal, if completed, would be a major blow to Mail.ru, which has been trying to compete in Russia's fast-growing taxi and digital mobility solutions market.

Four bidders expected for Kosovo’s Ipko

The planned sale of Telekom Slovenije’s Kosovan subsidiary Ipko is the latest move towards consolidation in the Balkan telecoms sector, Fitch Solutions writes.

Russian internet giant Yandex launches a beta version of its food retail app Supercheck

Online retail is growing in leaps and bounds even if traditional retail is in the doldrums on the back of six years of real income wage increase stagnation.

Lithuania passes e-residency legislation to boost investment

1 day ago

Hungarian and Czech super laser facilities to form consortium

3 days ago

Russian Yandex.Taxi snaps up Vezet assets from rival Mail.ru

3 days ago

Four bidders expected for Kosovo’s Ipko

4 days ago

Russian internet giant Yandex launches a beta version of its food retail app Supercheck

8 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

OPINION: Kosovo must not condone “murder by media” of powerful women

In Europe’s youngest country, media freedom is flourishing — yet a controversial story published by a leading broadsheet has turned the spotlight on the serious risks to press freedom and gender equality that remain.

COMMENT: Sberbank’s chief economist says Russian inflation could come in below 4% in 2019

Sberbank’s chief economist says Russian inflation could come in below 4% in 2019

ING: Hungary’s budget is looking extremely good

The Hungarian year-to-date general government deficit came in at HUF 390bn - only 39.1% of the full-year target, but we can't really say if this good performance is here to stay

Timothy Ash on trying to figure out the Turkish sacking of the central bank governor story

On June 6 Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan used his new executive president to sacked the governor of the Turkish central bank and markets tanked. What happens next?

COLCHIS: Running out of steam: Georgian politics after the May 2019 elections

The two big parties in Georgian politics are at each other's throats but they are losing their appeal. With a lack of alternatives or fresh political ideas most voters feel like political orphans

OPINION: Kosovo must not condone “murder by media” of powerful women

7 days ago

COMMENT: Sberbank’s chief economist says Russian inflation could come in below 4% in 2019

9 days ago

ING: Hungary’s budget is looking extremely good

10 days ago

Timothy Ash on trying to figure out the Turkish sacking of the central bank governor story

10 days ago

COLCHIS: Running out of steam: Georgian politics after the May 2019 elections

14 days ago

More Opinion

Data

Hackers target Bulgaria’s revenue agency, accessing millions of financial records

The hackers accessed the system of Bulgaria’s tax agency, revealing tax declarations, personal identification numbers, names, addresses, income and other information, which were leaked to the media from a Russian email address.

Polish inflation accelerates to 2.6% y/y in June

Inflation is expected to moderate in the second half of the year with the Polish Monetary Policy Council to remain dovish.

Average gross wage in Slovenia up by real 2.5% y/y in May

Tightening labour markets are putting upward pressure on wages in Central and Southeast Europe.

Fastest shrinking EU states are from Southeast Europe and the Baltics

States across Central and Southeast Europe are experiencing a long-term population decline due to a combination of low birth rates and mass emigration.

Consumer prices in Ukraine declined 0.5% in June

Prices of food (down 1.1% m/m), clothes and footwear (down 3.0%) and utilities (down 1.4%) dragged the headline figure down in June.

Hackers target Bulgaria’s revenue agency, accessing millions of financial records

2 days ago

Polish inflation accelerates to 2.6% y/y in June

3 days ago

Average gross wage in Slovenia up by real 2.5% y/y in May

3 days ago

Fastest shrinking EU states are from Southeast Europe and the Baltics

6 days ago

Consumer prices in Ukraine declined 0.5% in June

8 days ago

More Data

Features

Armenians remain optimistic about the future and pleased with their government, poll shows

Results of a poll by the International Republican Institute indicate a strong popular mandate for the new government to press on with reforms.

Ukraine’s balance of payments to support the hryvnia, despite growing trade deficit

A positive balance of payments will support the value of Ukraine’s currency, the hryvnia, largely thanks to $5bn worth of remittances sent home by Ukrainians working abroad, despite the swelling trade deficit.

Central, Eastern and Southeast European sovereigns to return to debt markets on large scale in 2020, Raiffeisen says

Governments of Central and Southeast Europe have already secured most of the funding they need for this year, but with more obligations maturing in 2020 they are expected to return to the markets on a large scale next year

Rainbow flag flies over CEE, but attitudes to LGBT vary vastly

North Macedonia held its first ever gay pride march on June 29 with up to 1,000 people attending the event. There were pride marches in nearly all the CEE countries but the experience in each country is vastly different.

TANAP pipeline comes online, a major piece in Europe’s energy puzzle

Completion of the TANAP pipeline brings completion of the Southern Gas Corridor that will diversify Europe’s gas supplies away from Russia closer to reality — at a time when Russia is building its own new pipeline infrastructure.

Armenians remain optimistic about the future and pleased with their government, poll shows

8 days ago

Ukraine’s balance of payments to support the hryvnia, despite growing trade deficit

10 days ago

Central, Eastern and Southeast European sovereigns to return to debt markets on large scale in 2020, Raiffeisen says

10 days ago

Rainbow flag flies over CEE, but attitudes to LGBT vary vastly

17 days ago

TANAP pipeline comes online, a major piece in Europe’s energy puzzle

15 days ago

More Features

Blogs

CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Pursuit of ex-president Atambayev has wide-reaching consequences for Kyrgyzstan

Prosecution of the first Kyrgyz president to leave office peacefully will show that no one is above the law — but it could also discourage his successors from handing over power.

BALKAN BLOG: Balkan divisions on display at bad-tempered Sarajevo summit

The brawl at Sarajevo airport between Bosnian border guards and Turkish President Erdogan’s security was the only time things turned physical, but it came on top of a whole series of acrimonious verbal clashes between Southeast European politicians.

BRICKS & MORTAR: Romania, Poland top destinations for new retail parks in CEE

The retail park market is still in its infancy in CEE compared to Western Europe, says a report from Cushman & Wakefield, leaving plenty of room for catch-up growth, especially in smaller cities.

BRICKS AND MORTAR: Tehran emigrants price locals out of the market in satellite cities

Residents of cities and towns around Tehran are reporting sharp increases in rents due to the influx of people from the big city.

BALKAN BLOG: Apathy greets suspected top-level coverup in Bulgaria

When Bulgaria’s anti-corruption body found no signs of irregularity in the “Apartmentgate” scandal, it raised concerns about institutional independence, but most people lacked the energy to protest.

CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Pursuit of ex-president Atambayev has wide-reaching consequences for Kyrgyzstan

6 days ago

BALKAN BLOG: Balkan divisions on display at bad-tempered Sarajevo summit

9 days ago

BRICKS & MORTAR: Romania, Poland top destinations for new retail parks in CEE

14 days ago

BRICKS AND MORTAR: Tehran emigrants price locals out of the market in satellite cities

17 days ago

BALKAN BLOG: Apathy greets suspected top-level coverup in Bulgaria

20 days ago

More Blogs

Latest Updates

News

Move in response to Erdogan administration buying Russian missile systems set to cost Nato member country $9bn in projected work share.

Cleanup operation launched after ruling coalition's disappointing performance in the first round of the recent presidential election.

The Chinese financing company Touchstone Capital Partners is providing €15bn funding for the project that will become part of Beijing's Belt and Road initiative to link Asia with Europe.

Macron says some external powers "have an interest" in making sure no deal is reached between Serbia and Kosovo, after normalisation talks stalled.

Investment funds recorded a record outflow of capital in June as households ploughed their savings to the new Map Plus retail bonds, which offer the highest returns at all stages of maturity.

Tech

Follows the trail blazed by nearby Estonia which has operated an e-residency system since 2014.

Super laser research facilities in the two CEE countries will form a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), which is expected to start operating in January 2020.

The deal, if completed, would be a major blow to Mail.ru, which has been trying to compete in Russia's fast-growing taxi and digital mobility solutions market.

The planned sale of Telekom Slovenije’s Kosovan subsidiary Ipko is the latest move towards consolidation in the Balkan telecoms sector, Fitch Solutions writes.

Online retail is growing in leaps and bounds even if traditional retail is in the doldrums on the back of six years of real income wage increase stagnation.

Opinion

In Europe’s youngest country, media freedom is flourishing — yet a controversial story published by a leading broadsheet has turned the spotlight on the serious risks to press freedom and gender equality that remain.

Sberbank’s chief economist says Russian inflation could come in below 4% in 2019

The Hungarian year-to-date general government deficit came in at HUF 390bn - only 39.1% of the full-year target, but we can't really say if this good performance is here to stay

On June 6 Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan used his new executive president to sacked the governor of the Turkish central bank and markets tanked. What happens next?

The two big parties in Georgian politics are at each other's throats but they are losing their appeal. With a lack of alternatives or fresh political ideas most voters feel like political orphans

Data

The hackers accessed the system of Bulgaria’s tax agency, revealing tax declarations, personal identification numbers, names, addresses, income and other information, which were leaked to the media from a Russian email address.

Inflation is expected to moderate in the second half of the year with the Polish Monetary Policy Council to remain dovish.

Tightening labour markets are putting upward pressure on wages in Central and Southeast Europe.

States across Central and Southeast Europe are experiencing a long-term population decline due to a combination of low birth rates and mass emigration.

Prices of food (down 1.1% m/m), clothes and footwear (down 3.0%) and utilities (down 1.4%) dragged the headline figure down in June.

Features

Results of a poll by the International Republican Institute indicate a strong popular mandate for the new government to press on with reforms.

A positive balance of payments will support the value of Ukraine’s currency, the hryvnia, largely thanks to $5bn worth of remittances sent home by Ukrainians working abroad, despite the swelling trade deficit.

Governments of Central and Southeast Europe have already secured most of the funding they need for this year, but with more obligations maturing in 2020 they are expected to return to the markets on a large scale next year

North Macedonia held its first ever gay pride march on June 29 with up to 1,000 people attending the event. There were pride marches in nearly all the CEE countries but the experience in each country is vastly different.

Completion of the TANAP pipeline brings completion of the Southern Gas Corridor that will diversify Europe’s gas supplies away from Russia closer to reality — at a time when Russia is building its own new pipeline infrastructure.

Blogs

Prosecution of the first Kyrgyz president to leave office peacefully will show that no one is above the law — but it could also discourage his successors from handing over power.

The brawl at Sarajevo airport between Bosnian border guards and Turkish President Erdogan’s security was the only time things turned physical, but it came on top of a whole series of acrimonious verbal clashes between Southeast European politicians.

The retail park market is still in its infancy in CEE compared to Western Europe, says a report from Cushman & Wakefield, leaving plenty of room for catch-up growth, especially in smaller cities.

Residents of cities and towns around Tehran are reporting sharp increases in rents due to the influx of people from the big city.

When Bulgaria’s anti-corruption body found no signs of irregularity in the “Apartmentgate” scandal, it raised concerns about institutional independence, but most people lacked the energy to protest.

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Once Ukraine’s biggest commercial bank, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) nationalised Privatbank in December 2016 and poured m....

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