Tag: Trade

Russia’s Oil Dilemma Explained

Budget, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Oil, Gas, Energy
Oil Well file photo

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Stephen Bierman -March 8, 2016) [Charts here bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-09/russia-s-dilemma-squeeze-oil-industry-without-strangling-growth-ilk2y8i4] While the world focuses on Russia’s oil-freeze talks with OPEC, there are discussions behind closed doors in the Kremlin that will have a much more significant impact on the nation’s energy industry. The petrodollars that underpin Russia’s national budget are evaporating. When crude prices were high, increasing revenue […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

Nord Stream 2: Is Russian gas politically incorrect?

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, Oil, Gas, Energy
Gas Flame file photo

A lobbying campaign against the extension of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, spearheaded by Gazprom together with five European energy majors, has now engulfed the European Parliament. What are the arguments of the opponents and are they business-focused or politically motivated? (Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – VLADIMIR MIKHEEV, SPECIAL TO RBTH – March 4, 2016) Twelve members […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , ,

Russian oil companies approve production freeze

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Oil, Gas, Energy
Oil Well file photo

The country’s top oil bosses have agreed to keep production at January levels in a deal with the government, which is hoping the move will see oil prices increase. However, analysts say that the move may not necessarily lead to a recovery. (Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – ALEXEI LOSSAN, RBTH – March 3, 2016) The heads of Russia’s […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , ,

NEWSLINK: “How Putin’s Embargo Is Reshaping Russia’s Cuisine. Putin’s embargo is changing the way Russians dine out, and chef Vladimir Mukhin is taking the opportunity to transfigure the country’s cuisine. 16. The Economist: Russia and sanctions. Toe in the water. Why is Russia tapping international debt markets?” – Wall Street Journal

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Newslinks
Map of Russia and Russian Flag adapted from images at state.gov » Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , ,

Russian media silent as U.S. extends sanctions against Moscow

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Sanctions, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Truck at Russian Border Crossing

The U.S. has extended its economic sanctions regime against Russia. While the mass media kept quiet on the news, one or two outlets speculated about the possible reasons behind the decision as well as about the likely outcome of a coming EU vote on whether to follow suit. (Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – NIKOLAI SHEVCHENKO, SPECIAL TO RBTH […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

NEWSWATCH: “Russia Thinks It Has Solved the Oil-Price Crisis; But it may just be more wishful thinking” – Fortune.com

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, JRL NewsBlog, Oil, Gas, Energy
Oil Well file photo

The world’s major oil exporting economies have been putting together an agreement to freeze oil production levels, and Russia’s energy minister is optimistic that it will be effective in finally stopping the slide in oil prices ….  * * * The news seemed to buoy the oil market…. But there’s plenty of reason to doubt that the action will bring […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , , ,

TRANSCRIPT: [Putin at] Meeting with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Oil, Gas, Energy, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Gas Facility file photo

(Kremlin.ru – February 29, 2016) The head of Gazprom briefed Vladimir Putin on the company’s results in 2015, and discussed, in particular, gas supply figures for the domestic and European markets and the programme for connecting Russia’s regions to the gas network. President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Miller, I have several questions to start our discussion, and then we […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , ,

Russia’s Economy Is Tanking, So Why Is Putin Smiling?

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Diverse Paper Currency, Coins, Line Graph

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Evgenia Pismennaya, Anna Andrianova – February 29, 2016) With Russia mired in the longest recession in two decades, there hasn’t been a lot of good economic news lately. But there’s one indicator that’s looking up, and it’s the one that matters most to Vladimir Putin: His hard-currency reserves. The central bank held $379 billion in foreign […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Interfax: Novak considers $50 per barrel most appropriate from supply-demand standpoint

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Oil, Gas, Energy, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Offshore Oil Rig file photo

MINSK. Feb 25 (Interfax) – Oil prices are unlikely to rise above $60 per barrel and a price of $50 is optimal, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said. “Speaking fundamentally, the price cannot be high, above $50-$60 per barrel, because in this situation robust investment activity would resume, those projects where investment and production volumes are now falling would be implemented, […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , ,

Can Things Get Any Worse for Russia? You’re About to Find Out

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Oil, Gas, Energy, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Diverse Paper Currency, Coins, Line Graph

Investors who’ve made a fortune in the country say that with oil’s plunge, the ruble’s collapse, and Putin in power, all bets are off (Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Ksenia Galouchko and Henry Meyer – February 23, 2016) [Charts here bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-24/putin-s-oil-despair-drives-lucky-few-investors-toward-the-exits] For a decade, Dmitri Barinov has been following the volatile economy of his homeland from the safe distance of Union […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Russia and OPEC trio agree to freeze oil production, but no cuts

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Middle East, North Africa, Oil, Gas, Energy
Oil Well file photo

Russia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Venezuela have announced their readiness to freeze oil production volumes at January levels but fell short of agreeing to cut production by 5 percent as was earlier anticipated. Market analysts believe this agreement is a loss for Russian diplomacy – as a result of the deal, oil prices and the related value of the ruble […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

Weak Ruble Draws Foreign Tourists to Russia for Summer Vacations

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Diverse Paper Currency, Coins, Line Graph

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – February 18, 2016) The number of foreign tourists booking summer vacations in Russia has risen by 30 percent amid the weakening of the ruble, the Kommersant newspaper reported Wednesday, citing a study by the Momondo online reservation system. Demand for trips to Russia during the summer months among German travelers – who made the most […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , ,

NEWSLINK: “The Russian Connection Between Syria and Ukraine. Moscow may try to link cooperation in the Syrian crisis to relief from sanctions.” – The National Interest/Joseph Nye

Europe, EU, Middle East, North Africa, Military, Newslinks, Syria, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Kremlin Tower, St. Basil's, Red Square at Night » Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

RBTH: Even if Russia and OPEC tango, oil prices won’t budge an inch

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Oil, Gas, Energy
Oil Well file photo

As Russian officials consider trying to forge an agreement with OPEC in order to help push up oil prices, they are missing an unfortunate truth – factors such as the discord within the oil producers’ body, the positions of Saudi Arabia and Iran and the strength of the dollar all mean that the price of oil is unlikely to bounce […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

Agreement between Russia, three OPEC countries concerns average oil output for year – Energy Ministry

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Oil, Gas, Energy
Oil Well file photo

MOSCOW. Feb 16 (Interfax) – The agreement that Russia and OPEC nations Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Venezuela reached at meeting in Doha on Tuesday not to exceed January’s level of output applies to average figures for the year, not daily output, the Russian Energy Ministry said in a revised statement following the meeting. The meeting was between Russian Energy Minister […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , ,

TRANSCRIPT: Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with Russian and German business leaders at the Munich Security Conference

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, Germany, Military, NATO
Map of Germany

(Government.ru – February 13, 2016) Dmitry Medvedev: Mr Buechele, colleagues. I welcome you to our breakfast on this Saturday morning. It’s this kind of morning meal where you don’t usually have the chance to eat anything. The goal of such meetings is naturally different. I consider this meeting to be useful and timely. Despite all that’s going on and all […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Russia Sends Medvedev to Munich Seeking Sanctions Relief

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Sanctions
Dmitri Medvedev file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Matthew Bodner – February 12, 2016) At last year’s Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov took to the stage to defend Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Scheduled between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the U.S. vice president, Lavrov faced a tough sell. He did his best to toe the government line, declaring Russia’s annexation of […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , ,

NEWSWATCH: “Weak Oil Prices Fuel Ukrainian Hopes of a More Conciliatory Russia” – Wall Street Journal

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, JRL NewsBlog, Oil, Gas, Energy, Sanctions, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Oil Well file photo

The Wall Street Journal covers Russian economic vulnerability amidst falling oil prices and its possible impact on efforts to resolve the Russo-Ukrainian conflict . Ukraine’s political elite is hoping that plummeting oil prices will restrain neighboring Russia’s interventionist ambitions—and give Western sanctions on Russia a bit more bite. … diplomatic overtures have raised hopes in Kiev that Moscow—which annexed Crimea […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Putin’s New Internet Czar Wants Apple and Google to Pay More Taxes

Budget, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
iPad file photo

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Ilya Khrennikov and Stepan Kravchenko – February 8, 2016) When he’s not checking Gmail on his MacBook, Vladimir Putin’s new Internet czar can’t stop railing against American technology companies. Google, Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp., collectively worth more than Russia’s gross domestic product, have all entered German Klimenko’s crosshairs since he was named Putin’s first Internet […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

When Baikal water will be more expensive than oil

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Environment, Oil, Gas, Energy
Lake Baikal and Environs Satellite Photo

The average price of a bottle of drinking water in Moscow has become more expensive than what a bottle of Brent crude would cost. RBTH asks experts if it would be worthwhile for Russia to start exporting water from Lake Baikal. (Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – GLEB FEDOROV, RBTH – February 5, 2016) [Charts here rbth.com/politics_and_society/society/2016/02/05/when-baikal-water-will-be-more-expensive-than-oil_564923] In January, […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , ,

NEWSLINK: “Life after sanctions: What kind of future awaits Russia and the EU? With calls for EU economic sanctions against Russia to be lifted growing, it is time to consider what kind of future awaits relations between Moscow and Europe – is the idea of close co-operation dead and buried, or can both sides bury the hatchet and move toward a more meaningful and trusting relationship?” – RBTH/Gazeta.ru/Fyodor Lukyanov

Europe, EU, Newslinks, Sanctions
EU Map » Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , ,

52% of Russians favor open borders with Ukraine, without visas or customs

Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Map of Commonwealth of Independent States, European Portion

(Interfax – February 3, 2016) Half of Russians (52 percent) believe that Russia and Ukraine should be independent countries but friends, with open borders and without visas or customs, Levada Center told Interfax. The opinion was held by 52 percent of respondents in 2015, and 59 percent in 2014, the sociologists said. A third argue that Russia-Ukraine relations should be […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , , ,

NEWSLINK: “Could sanctions spur Russia’s ascent to agricultural superpower? Since the end of the Soviet era, Russia’s agricultural industry has languished. But with sanctions now keeping European goods out of the Russian market, small domestic farmers are stepping up.” – Christian Science Monitor

Agriculture, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Sanctions
File Photo of U.S. Dairy Cows » Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

Oil prices could reach $40 a barrel if Russia made deal with OPEC

Oil, Gas, Energy
Oil Well file photo

Analysts say that if Russia reduces its oil production by 5 percent, black gold prices may increase to $40 a barrel and over. However, the Russian government admits that it has no real control over production policy in private companies, though firms may reduce production themselves due to the fall in hydrocarbon prices. (Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , ,

Is There A Non-West for Russia to Lead?

China, CIS, Customs Union, Eurasian Union, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Military, Russia & the West, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Mercator Projection Satellite Image of Earth

(PONARS Eurasia – ponarseurasia.org – Keith Darden – January 28, 2016 – ponarseurasia.org/memo/non-west-for-russia-to-lead) Keith Darden is Associate Professor in the School of International Service at American University. (PONARS Eurasia Policy Memo) Recently, Russian policymakers and strategists have articulated a vision of a vibrant non-Western world, one in which the United States and European leaders are increasingly marginal and where Russia […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Who benefits and who loses from revocation of anti-Iranian sanctions

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Iran, Oil, Gas, Energy
Iran Map and Flag

If Moscow plays its cards correctly, it will be able to strengthen its positions not only in Iran but also throughout the entire Middle East. (Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – GEVORG MIRZAYAN – January 29, 2016) The lifting of sanctions against Iran has generated an entire wave of speculation about the upcoming reformation of the Middle East. However, […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NEWSLINK Carnegie Moscow/Mikhail Krutikhin: “The Russian Oil Industry in the Era of Cheap Crude. A recent slight increase in Russia’s oil output is likely to be short-lived. Oil production may decline almost twofold by the end of the year due to a lack of financing for new field exploration and development.”

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Newslinks, Oil, Gas, Energy
Oil Well file photo » Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , ,

At Davos forum Russia promises to eliminate its dependence on oil

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Oil, Gas, Energy
Oil Well file photo

Russian representatives announced imminent large-scale economic reforms at the World Economic Forum. The proposed changes would affect the country’s dependence on oil and the facilitation of investors accessing the market. (Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – ALEXEI LOSSAN, RBTH – January 25, 2016) Low oil prices are helping the Russian government carry out large-scale reforms despite the drastic reduction […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , ,

Kudrin: Sanctions against Russia could start to ease late 2016-early 2017

Europe, EU, Russia & the West, Sanctions, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Alexei Kudrin file photo

(Interfax – January 22, 2016) Relations between Russia and the West are normalizing and sanctions will be lifted, Alexei Kudrin, a former Russian finance minister, said. “I’m sure the sanctions will start to soften at the end of this year or start of next year. Nobody in Russia wants to keep up confrontation. I think the Minsk accords will be […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

U.S. Beats Russia in ‘Most Powerful’ Ranking

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Mercator Projection Satellite Image of Earth

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – January 22, 2016) Russia is second only to its former Cold War foe the United States in terms of its power to influence the global agenda but lags behind many other countries in most categories, a new ranking presented at the Davos World Economic Forum said. Moscow scored a 9.4 in the “Power” category, which […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , , ,
1 … 10 11 12 13 14 … 25