In recent months, Russia's big business has been actively pushing for changes in the country's monetary policy, calling for the government to be given the right to influence the Central Bank's decisions. The high key rate, which has reached 21%, puts companies in front of a difficult choice, limiting access to financing for investment and development. In this article, we will discuss how the proposal to change the law on the Central Bank may affect the Russian market,...

... reserves under the budget rule), as well as a high key interest rate from the Central Bank of Russia. The recent reduction of the key rate by the Central Bank to 18% per annum has slightly eased financing conditions; however, the level remains elevated. High rates make ruble assets more attractive for investors and help to curb capital outflows while simultaneously cooling credit activity and imports. The balance of these opposing factors suggests that sharp fluctuations in the currency market are unlikely: ...

... uncertain times. Frozen Deposits in Russia: How Real Is the Risk? How to Protect Your Savings Amid High Interest Rates With the Central Bank of Russia raising its key interest rate to 21% and forecasts suggesting it could climb to 23% by December, high deposit rates have become attractive for many Russians. Deposits are widely considered a reliable way to preserve capital. However, rising interest rates have sparked rumors of potential deposit freezes, leaving depositors uneasy. Let’s examine the likelihood ...

... market correction following peaks during the energy crisis of 2022–2023. Investors are also monitoring external economic signals: negotiations between the U.S. and China regarding trade disputes are ongoing, and the U.S. Federal Reserve did indeed keep rates unchanged following its meeting on July 30. Soft monetary conditions combined with the resolution of trade disagreements may support fuel demand in the latter half of the year. Gas Market: Storage Facilities Filling Up, Prices Remain High The gas market is primarily focused on Europe. EU countries are rapidly filling underground gas storage facilities in preparation for the winter season. By the end of July, European UGS facilities are over 72% full (compared to ~59% a month earlier),...

... million (+34% year-on-year) and earnings around $0.30–0.31 per share (34-48% above the previous year). Several factors support this growth: a significant rise in options trading income (+39% year-on-year forecast), increased interest income (due to high rates on customer account balances), and a surge in new clients for the paid Robinhood Gold service (in Q1, the number of Gold subscribers grew by 90% year-on-year to 3.2 million). If actual figures meet or exceed forecasts, it will confirm the optimistic ...