War

Commodities
Commodity Prices
Inflation
Russia
War

Commodities Hit July Storm With Putin and Powell Stirring Fear

(Bloomberg) — Commodities are careering into a second half that promises as much turmoil as the first, with the world facing an escalating energy crisis, copper plunging on Fed-fueled recession fears, and Russian President Vladimir Putin delivering a shock for Shell Plc. Russia’s move to reshuffle ownership of the Sakhalin-2 gas plant spells trouble for […]

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Russia
Ukraine
War

A Hundred Firms Pull $45 Billion of Deals Since War in Ukraine

(Bloomberg) — At least a hundred companies worldwide have delayed or pulled financing deals worth more than $45 billion since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These include initial public offerings, bonds or loans and acquisitions. U.S. equity market deals were the worst hit by global volatility in the first quarter as a crop of firms postponed […]

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Oil
Russia
War

What a Ban on Russian Oil May Mean for an Already Chaotic Market

(Bloomberg) — Brent crude soared almost 18% to just shy of $140 a barrel at the open in Asia following news over the weekend that the U.S. and its European allies are discussing a possible ban on Russian oil exports. It’s the latest development in an eye-watering surge in prices since the invasion of Ukraine, […]

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Russia
War

Russia, Ukraine Officials Meet as Ruble Sinks: Ukraine Update

(Bloomberg) — A Ukrainian delegation led by the defense minister began talks with Russian officials on the fifth day of an invasion that’s triggered a flurry of sanctions against Moscow and sent Russian markets into a tailspin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has voiced skepticism that the talks, taking place on the country’s border with Belarus, […]

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Credit Rating
Russia
Russian Economy
War

Russia’s Credit Rating Cut to Junk by S&P as Tension Rises

(Bloomberg) — Russia’s credit rating was cut to junk by S&P Global Ratings, which joined Fitch Ratings in downgrading Ukraine amid an escalation of conflict in the region. S&P lowered Russia to BB+, below investment grade, from BBB- late Friday and warned of further cuts, citing the “strong” international sanctions slapped on the country following […]

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Banks
Russia
Russian Economy
Trade War
War
Warfare

Putin Huddles With Tycoons to Offer Banks Bulk of State Aid

(Bloomberg) — Banks are taking precedence for President Vladimir Putin as Russia devises a domestic response to sanctions rolled out by western governments over the invasion of Ukraine. Russian state aid will initially focus on assisting lenders hit with penalties, according to two people who attended a closed meeting with Putin to address the impact […]

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Oil
Russia
War
Warfare

Russian Oil Offered at Record Discount as Buyers Hit Pause

(Bloomberg) — Russia’s flagship crude oil was offered for sale at a record discount as some buyers and shipping companies fretted over potential sanctions by the West following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Oil freight transportation costs boomed. The nation’s Urals crude was offered at $11.60 a barrel below Dated Brent, a marker for physical […]

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Russia
Russian Economy
War
Warfare

Russian Stocks’ 33% Crash Is Fifth-Worst in Market History

(Bloomberg) — Russia’s rout on Thursday is the fifth-worst plunge in equity market history in local currency terms as investors sold the nation’s assets following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. The benchmark MOEX Russia Index closed 33% lower in Moscow, erasing $189 billion in shareholder wealth, as Western leaders vowed to step up penalties on […]

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Russia
War

Russian Stock Market Rout Wipes Out $250 Billion in Value

(Bloomberg) — Russian assets nosedived as military attacks across Ukraine prompted emergency central bank action and investors braced for the toughest round of Western sanctions yet, wiping out as much as $259 billion in stock-market value. The ruble sank to a record low, the cost of insuring Russian debt against default soared to the highest […]

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Russia
War

The West is trying to choke off Russian finances

The gold address plaque of Bank Rossiya is seen outside the bank’s head office in St. Petersburg. Western countries are responding to Russia’s incursion on eastern Ukraine with a series of sanctions targeting the country’s financial sector. Russian troops have entered two breakaway regions in Ukraine that were recognized as independent by president Vladimir Putin […]

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