EMerging Equity
Central Europe
In Eurasia, Devaluation Is First Line Of Defence
By Chris Weafer, Macro Advisory Russia is not the only economy suffering from the combination of the oil price collapse and sanctions; most of the countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are also feeling the pain. For some it is because they have also waited far too long to start diversifying away from … Continue reading
New EU Energy Union Looks To Break Dependence On Russia
By Alina Yablokova and Global Risk Insights On February 25, the European Commission presented its Energy Union package of proposals, a first major step made by the European legislators to realise the strategy of coordinating the energy policies of the 28 EU member states. Indeed, the European Commission envisages a union that speaks with one voice … Continue reading
EU May Block Russia-Hungary Nuclear Deal On Concerns Budapest Won’t Ramp Up Sanctions On Moscow: FT
A deal by Hungary to award nuclear power contracts to a Russian state-owned company is facing “a growing threat” from EU regulators amid concerns that Budapest may resist attempts to ramp up sanctions against Moscow, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Sunday. In an article titled “Hungary-Russia nuclear power deal faces Brussels roadblock”, the FT says that up to €12bn … Continue reading
Disinflation In EU Countries Outside The Eurozone – IMF
By Plamen Iossifov and Jiri Podpiera Inflation has been falling sharply across Europe since 2012 (see Charts 1 and 2). Across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), inflation expectations have also drifted down especially among countries who peg their currencies to the euro (Bulgaria, Croatia and Lithuania, which adopted the euro on January 1, 2015), but also … Continue reading
Chevron Hammers Another Nail Into Polish Shale Gas Coffin
By Tim Gosling in Prague BNE Chevron announced on January 31 that it is to quit its hunt for Polish shale gas. The last but one energy major to traipse out of the country, the US giant looks to have put the final nail in the coffin of Warsaw’s dreams of leveraging its shale reserves to … Continue reading
How China’s Balkan Silk Road Can Resurrect The South Stream – OpEd
By Andrew Korybko Oriental Review China is extending its Silk Road into the Balkans, with a planned project to construct a railroad from the Greek port of Piraeus all the way to Budapest. This would connect Beijing’s primary port of entrance for its commercial goods to one of Central Europe’s main transport conduits, thereby pushing … Continue reading
Poland To Build State Electricity Champion
By BNE IntelliNews Poland plans to merge its four biggest power utilities, the treasury minister announced late on January 8. The plan is just the latest to spook minority shareholders in the state-controlled companies. The ministry has been hinting at the possible consolidation of the sector for over a year, but such an ambitious plan was not … Continue reading
Long Shadows Stretch Across Central Europe
Tim Gosling in Prague BNE Long shadows stretch across the economies of Central Europe as they head into 2015. There was optimism a year ago that a fully-fledged recovery was finally underway. However, stuttering growth in the Eurozone and the Ukraine geopolitical crisis have dampened export prospects, creating a challenging scenario for the small, open … Continue reading
Following Putin’s Lead, Turkey Looks Towards Eurasia
Along with Russia, Turkey lies at the confluence between Europe and Asia. A peripheral European power, like Russia, it is following Moscow’s lead and also looking east. In Turkey, I found a nation of deep contrasts, but a country incredibly sure of its statehood and fastened together by a strong overriding identity. Unlike its Black … Continue reading
Energy Aggression Against Russia is Expanding
By Petr Lvov During his recent trip to Ankara, President Vladimir Putin said on December 1 that the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline project for Southern Europe would be terminated due to the negative position of both Bulgaria and Brussels. Instead of that, it was proposed to build a gas pipeline through the territory … Continue reading
