Features
Tajikistan’s massive Rogun hydropower dam: a blessing or a curse?
Tajikistan is in danger of defaulting on its first every Eurobond as the construction of the giant Rogun hydropower dam gobbles up scarce resources.
ISTANBUL BLOG: The Syria Attraction – Putin and Trump tell Erdogan to stick with what he has, but Erdogan needs more
The Turkish president is in his element, laying on the strongman routine for world headlines. He’s taking calls from patrons Trump and Putin, but he may not like what he’s hearing.
SYRIA OFFENSIVE: ‘Fake sanctions’, ‘Sanctions lite’… Don’t kid yourself that Trump’s hit Turkey with meaningful measures
Lira market raises Erdogan’s middle finger to the world with some currency strengthening.
Samolet residential real estate business is flying
Russia’s residential real estate market is recovering as the economy emerges from several years of crisis. Incomes have been stagnant for six years, but as interest rates fall housing is becoming more affordable.
CONFERENCE CALL: Decline of the West and rise of the rest
It was 30 years ago that the Berlin Wall came down, ushering in hopes of a united, peaceful and prosperous world. Today the world is unpredictable and moving towards a new division between East and West. How did we get here?
Romania’s City Insurance aims to be largest local player in Central, Southeast Europe
Romania’s largest insurance firm City Insurance has long-range ambitions to become the largest regional player, but first it sees huge potential in its home market amid the emergence of Romania’s middle class.
It’s four more years of Law and Justice in Poland but what’s next?
The question everybody is asking themselves ahead of Sunday’s general election in Poland is not who will win it but how big the ruling populists’ margin of victory will be.
Vague warning of “Play by the rules” from Trump as markets wonder if Turkey’s Syria incursion will invoke US sanctions
Jitters over military operation gradually taking toll on lira, stocks and bonds but no sign as yet of major financial turbulence.
NEWSBASE: Russia to ride to Cuba's fuel shortages rescue
Cuba has been caught in the cross fire of the row between the US and Venezuela on which is relies for fuel imports. The island state has been suffering sever fuel shortages in recent months as shipments from Caracas dry up.
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TURKEY’S SYRIA INCURSION: How much Kurdish blood will Erdogan risk getting on Trump’s hands?
As attack on abandoned US allies starts markets also wonder whether bipartisan bid in Washington to hit Turks with sanctions will succeed.
M&A deals decline in Central, Southeast and Eastern Europe in 1H19
Fall in volume and value of deals revealed in CMS/Mergermarket report is in line with decline seen across Europe as economic slowdown, Brexit uncertainty and global trade wars hit sentiment.
CEE monthly bond wrap: Eastern Europe bond issues pick up in September, while Central Europe still on holiday
Bond markets in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) had a strong month in September with a total of 19 Eurobond issues, while the summer doldrums spilled over from August in Central Europe where there were only two issues.
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Trump ‘stabs Kurds in back’
Erdogan gets Syria incursion okay. Facing outcry, US leader then says: “If Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate Economy of Turkey".
LONG READ: Leading Russian chemical and fertiliser concerns Uralkali and Uralchem are facing bankruptcy in the next year
The two loss-making companies have built up over $11bn worth of debt and will struggle to make repayments in the coming year, says a report by Moscow Centre for Analytics, Research, Strategies and Technologies (ARST).
Zelenskiy’s secret deals
Something is going on behind the scenes in the Russia-EU-Ukraine conflict triangle and not only are we being told nothing about it, we are not even being told it is happening. Yet in the last two months there has been a string of landmark events.
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Turkmenistan: Echo chambers
For a leader so uninterested in representative government, Berdimuhamedov has done a lot of fiddling with the legislative branch.
ITI Funds’ RUSE ETF making returns in a time of sanctions
Russia's RTS equity market index was up 22.9% on October 3, and ITI Funds’ RTS ETF rose even faster. This makes Russia one of the best performing markets in the world, though Russian stocks are only trading at half their boom years valuations.
Who are the main candidates for PM in Kosovo's October 6 election?
The three most likely candidates for Kosovo’s next premier — Albin Kurti, Vjosa Osmani and Kadri Veseli — offer very different visions for the future of Europe’s youngest country.
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Ukraine’s banks back in the black but face serious challenges
Ukrainian banks just turned in their biggest profits in years after a lacklustre 2018 and a disastrous 2017, but lending is stagnant and NPLs weigh on balance sheets.
IRAN STAND-OFF: Day brings tentative step towards peaceful Gulf outcome
Tehran backs French plan for talks with US as broadly acceptable. Saudi energy minister described as “friend” by Iranian counterpart. Putin refuses to blame Islamic Republic for oil attacks. Riyadh says it wants regional “security and stability”.