Ukraine
Kyiv court rules nationalisation of PrivatBank was illegal
The court's decision caused an immediate backlash from Ukraine’s donors who see the nationalisation of the bankrupt bank as a major victory in the drive to reform the country and end the endemic corruption.
LONG READ: Playing Real Risk - Russia vs US
I play a game of Risk with my son using the real distribution of great power military bases around the world.
Central and Eastern European countries' high-tech exports boom
Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries high-tech exports are booming, according to a study recently conducted by RS Components, based on an analysis of 10 years of high-tech export data from The World Bank.
New Ukraine survey confirms Zelenskiy's landslide victory in second round
Of the total number of respondents who are going to vote in the second round of the Ukrainian presidential election on April 21 (and have already decided on a candidate), 72.2% said they would vote for Volodymyr Zelenskiy
EU approves the European gas directive, Gazprom submits third application for Nord Stream 2 pipeline route through Danish waters
The EU Council finally approved a European gas directive on April 15 that is expected to delay commissioning of the Nord Stream 2 gas line – and potentially leave it half empty.
New drama unfolds over Ukraine's nationalised PrivatBank as Zelenskiy about to win presidential election
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko believes that former finance minister and liberal reformer Oleksandr Danylyuk, who has joined a team of presidential frontrunner and comic Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has a conflict of interest in Privatbank case
_6_8_1555394561.png)
Ukraine economy ministry revises downward 2019 GDP forecast to 2.8% from 3%
Ukrainian Economy Ministry has revised downward its forecast for the growth of Ukraine's real GDP in 2019 to 2.8% year-on-year from 3% y/y.
Poroshenko debates an empty lectern as Ukraine's presidential frontrunner Zelenskiy is a no show
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was forced to communicate with journalists and his supporters at the national Olympic stadium in Kyiv on April 14 due to the fact that his rival and the leader of the ongoing presidential campaign Volodymyr Zelens
Ukrainian comedian Zelensky to win second round with landslide, new survey says
Over 60% of Ukrainians who are ready to vote in the second round of the presidential elections support comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, according to a survey by the Rating Sociological Group.
Ukraine’s bond market revolution about to begin, just as debt repayments are about to soar
A revolution in the Ukrainian bond market is about to take place this month that should provide ample financing, raised on the domestic, not international, capital market to deal with a debt mountain Ukraine is facing this year.
Ukrainian Zelenskiy releases list of first 10 steps should he win presidential elections
Having said very little about his policy plans, comic and Ukrainian presidential front-runner Volodymyr Zelenskiy has finally released some details.
_1_2_1554910238.png)
Ukraine consumer prices rise 0.9% m/m in March
Ukraine’s consumer inflation accelerated to 0.9% month-on-month in March from 0.5% m/m in February, whereas annual inflation stood at 8.6% year-on-year vs 8.9% y/y in February.
COMMENT: WTO report on Russia-Ukraine transit and national security disputes to test future of trading system
Washington was the only World Trade Organization (WTO) member that supported Moscow in a highly politicised trade dispute with Ukraine and the whole organisation has been thrown into an existential crisis as a result.
Ukraine oligarch Kolomoisky seeks $2bn compensation for nationalisation of PrivatBank
Ihor Kolomoisky, Ukraine's oligarch and former co-owner of the nation's largest lender PrivatBank, is going to seek $2bn of compensation from the nation's government for illegal nationalisation of the lender in late 2016.
_1_1_1554480094.png)
Ukraine foreign reserves increase by 2.1% m/m in March
Ukraine's international reserves increased by 2.1% month-on-month to $20.633bn in March from February, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) reported on April 5.
COLCHIS: When corruption trumps geopolitics: lessons from the Moldovan election
The flawed recent elections in Moldova reveal a simpler truth: that political expediency and corruption often wins over strategic and geopolitical orientation.
_0_3_1554391569.png)
CEE monthly bond wrap: window swings open for issues
Opportunity knocked at start of 2019 after US Fed indicated it was retreating from tightening. That switched bond investors to risk-on and yield-hungry, attracting many to Emerging Europe markets.
Pro-Russian vote in Ukraine’s presidential election first round revealed as strong by official tallies
Had the Russian-oriented part of the electorate been able to rally around a single candidate, that candidate would have come third just 24,318 votes short of President Poroshenko’s result and would be facing outsider Zelenskiy in the run-off.
_Cropped_1554443602.png)
Showdown: Ukraine's president and comedian challenger to square off in Olympic Stadium debate
Ukrainian leader Poroshenko has agreed to meet outsider and comic Zelenskiy in an elections debate in Kiev's Olympic Stadium in what may turn out to be a disaster for the challenger. The face-off comes complete with pre-performance drug tests.
_Crop_1554208276.jpg)
Ukrainian, Turkish bonds rally on election results
Kiev and Ankara’s eurobonds respond positively to voting outcomes. Ukraine has a debt mountain to climb this year. Market in Turkey could be hit if Erdogan reacts in heavy-handed way to poll defeats.