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Articles by Ben Aris for bne IntelliNews
RAINY DAY FUNDS
Russia’s Currency Reserves Hit Record $600Bln
As oil prices have recovered, Moscow’s international reserves have continued climbing.
SUCCESS STORY
Russia’s Agricultural Sector Boosts Output Despite Pandemic
Growth in 2020 slowed down, but total output was almost record-breaking.
PLAYING THE MARKETS
Russia’s Private Investor Boom Spooks Regulators
Russia’s Central Bank, long cautious over the sharp rise in retail investors, now sees possible financial risks.
news
Russia Records 3.6% GDP Fall in Third Quarter
Economic slowdown moderated over summer months, official statistics show, but second wave has put the economy back under pressure.
DEBT CRISIS
Russia’s Ingushetia Region on Brink of Bankruptcy
The North Caucasus region is deep in the red. It could be the first domino to fall in a looming regional debt crisis.
HEALTH KICK
Russian Health Food Startup Soars During Pandemic
A new appreciation for healthy living has helped former model Elena Shifrina’s BioFoodLab edge closer to a dream IPO.
CORONAVIRUS RECESSION
Fresh Data Shows Russian Economy Suffering Broad Slowdown
Business surveys show activity in both services and manufacturing is in decline.
SPACE CALLING
Russia’s MegaFon Joins Race to Provide Mobile Internet From Space
Data network could ensure mobile coverage reaches areas traditional cable networks can't.
MONEY TROUBLES
Russian Regions Face Looming Debt Crisis
As the second wave hits Russia’s regions hard, the costs are mounting for their fragile finances.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Rare Snowmelt Floods Power Station in Russian Far North
Warmer temperatures increasingly threaten Russia’s energy infrastructure.
OLIGARCH TAMED
Ukraine Set for IMF Support After Approving Anti-Kolomoisky Banking Law
New law opens door for $5.5 billion in loans from IMF.
SALES CUT
Diamond Sales Plunge 95% at Russia's Top Producer
Coronavirus wipes out global demand for precious stones.
DOUBLE WHAMMY
Is Russia Facing Another Banking Crisis?
The coronavirus pandemic and the oil price collapse are taking their toll.
MARKET WRAP
Extreme Volatility Marks Turbulent Week on Russian Stock Market
The RTS index was down 45% from its recent peak Thursday in one of the craziest trading weeks in a generation.
KEEPING CALM
Russian Businesses Show Few Signs of Coronavirus Hit, For Now
Bellwether PMI readings show business conditions holding steady, but deterioration still likely.
CORONAVIRUS CRASH
Russia’s RTS Falls Below 1,400 in the Worst Sell-Off Since 2008
Coronavirus pandemic fears are gripping emerging markets.
TECH ALLIANCE
Russia’s Top Retail and Tech Companies Join Forces to Hunt for Innovations
Three consumer giants are looking for solutions beyond Russia’s borders.
BUILDING UP
Russia’s Real Estate Sector Set For Expansion
After two years of low investment, Russia’s builders should be in high demand in 2020.
RETAILERS’ THERAPY
Russia’s Retailers Show Signs of Revival
Footfall in malls hit a five-year high and fresh government spending should boost consumption.
HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH
Gazprom vs. Sberbank: The Battle to be Russia’s Most Valuable Company
Gazprom has pulled out a $10 billion lead over Russia’s largest bank.
In depth
Russia, Climate Change, and the $30 Trillion ESG Investment Prize
Russian companies can’t ignore the rise of environmental investors for much longer.
DEBT DYNAMICS
Ukraine Could Follow Russia in Credit-Driven Retail Boom
Russia's loan-driven consumer spending is running out of steam, while Ukraine is just getting started.
ARCTIC ENERGY
Vostok Oil: Russia’s Newest Arctic Energy Hope
Rosneft’s Arctic energy project is the latest attempt to exploit the region’s vast resources.
GREEN SALE
Renewables Drive Accelerates as Enel Russia Sells its Largest Coal Power Station
The sale could be a turning point for Russia’s utilities sector as companies respond to environmental concerns of the government and investors.
Carbon Footprint
The Cost of Carbon in Russia
Russia is the world's fourth-largest polluter, but has ratified the Paris climate accord.
Credit rating
Russia’s Ratings Agency ACRA Assigns A- Sovereign Rating to Russia
The score is higher than those given by the big three international ratings agencies.
Zero Net
Russia's Net Public Debt Falls to Zero
Despite low oil prices, Russia Inc. is accumulating money quickly again as it has become a lot more profitable than it was in the noughties.
Retail Therapy
Moscow Summer Rains Send Shoppers Indoors
Muscovites suffered the coldest summer on record this year, which drove them indoors to the malls to escape the rains.
business analysis
The Trouble With Investing Into Russia
The Russian climate depends entirely on your point of view.
Business feature
Moscow’s Frozen Relations With Europe Start to Thaw
Harsh new sanctions are increasingly unlikely and there is growing room to cut some sort of deal.
Eco Capitalism
Russian Companies Slowly Embrace Recycled Plastics
Investors and customers alike are demanding Russian companies adopt environmentally sustainable policies.
leaps and bounds
Wildberries Overtakes Sportmaster as Russia’s Biggest Clothes Retailer
This is the first time an e-commerce store has become a market leader in the country.
Pipeline Politics
Turkish Stream Pipeline is Almost Finished, Gazprom Says
TurkStream should be online by the end of the year.
Shrinking sector
Lack of New Business Pulled Down Russia's Services and Manufacturing PMIs in June
The overall economy continues to sputter and services are negatively affected by the stagnant real incomes.
Sharing profits
Russia’s Dividend Season Opens as Investors Prepare for Record Payouts
Yields and cash amounts are forecast to hit an all-time high in 2019.
Islamic finance
Russia's Sberbank to Acquire Stake in Islamic Charity Platform PayZakat
The start-up helps Muslims to give alms.
Gas Giant
As Rumors Swirl That Russia’s Gazprom Will Replace Its Chief, the Company’s Value Keeps Growing
The “state within a state” is now Russia’s most valuable enterprise, and investors believe fundamental change is on the cards.
Stock spike
Shares in Russia’s Gazprom Soar
Doubling of dividend payout has lifted valuation.
Sanctions row
Deripaska Slams U.S. Treasury Memo Accusing Him of Playing Politics
The oligarch said the document is full of false claims.
Business feature
The Russian Economy Is Stagnating
GDP growth since the start of the year has been well below forecasts.
investment sentiment
Yields on Russian Benchmark Bonds Fall as Foreign Demand Rises
OFZ treasury bills are trading near their highest levels for two years.
Business feature
Why Are Russian Stocks So Cheap?
Would-be investors don’t believe companies’ boards will share revenues.
Business feature
Russian Real Estate Market Getting Back on Its Feet
Investment rose by nearly a third in the first three months of the year.
Business feature
Can Russia Halve Its Poverty Level?
Some say Putin’s ambitious target was meant to light a fire under bureaucracy rather than represent an achievable goal.
Business feature
Russia’s Nuclear Power Exports Are Booming
Rosatom has been using nuclear power plants as a way of cementing ties with its fellow emerging markets.
Long read
Ukraine Faces a Bleak Winter as Russia Prepares to Cut Off Gas
The head of Ukraine’s state gas company Naftogaz expects deliveries to stop on January 1, 2020.
New boss
Moscow Exchange Chief Steps Down a Year Early
Bourse vows to stay on positive course.
Financial controls
Russia’s Finance Ministry Takes Control of the Country’s Most Indebted Regions
Expenditure and borrowing will be closely watched.
Mutual interests
Russian State-Owned Bank to Buy Stake in Major Construction Company
Firm is owned by oligarch and Putin ally Arkady Rotenberg.
Business Feature
Russian Private Medical Services Show Healthy Growth
The emerging middle class is willing to pay more for good health.
opinion
Ben Aris for bne IntelliNews
Russia’s Consumers Still Glum but Businesses Becoming Optimistic for 2019
Russia proved to be a tale of two cities as 2019 got under way.
Mega Merger
Russian Supermarket Leader Magnit Makes $1.78Bln Bid to Buy Rival Lenta
Lenta has been struggling to keep up as the supermarket business has become tougher.