The economy

Oil prices fell below 45 dollars a barrel.

2009-04-22T06:24:00.000-07:00

Oil prices on the NYMEX Exchange fell during the auction on 21 April following a psychologically important mark of 45 dollars per barrel. At 18:00 Moscow time barrel mark WTI crude oil supply in May, dropped in price relative to the previous day's closing at 1.27 dollars to 44.61 dollars.
At the same time, the June futures on the North Sea mark Brent have fallen in price by 90 cents to 48.96 dollars. At the auction on 20 April, both brands cheaper eight per cent.
Oil prices are falling because of fears of investors about the collapse in global demand for hydrocarbons. The International Energy Agency (IEA), world oil consumption in 2009 decreased by 2.5 percent. Thus, the first time since the eighties of the demand will fall within two years.
At the price also has increased the pressure the U.S. dollar. Over the past three days, the U.S. currency to the euro grew by 3 per cent. Dollar rise has meant that investors seek to sell other securities and futures, are they available. At higher dollar commodity prices are falling, with the exception, usually gold.

Russia issued its alternative to the Energy Charter.

2009-04-21T18:08:00.000-07:00

The draft document on international energy cooperation, which can completely or partially replaced by the Energy Charter, published on the site of the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev.
In the proposal of the Russian side on Energy Cooperation states that the new system, unlike the built around the Energy Charter, should unite all the major States which are manufacturers, exporters, consumers and transit of energy resources. The new system including should be universal, open, equitable and comprehensive.
The document, entitled "Conceptual approach to the new legal framework for international cooperation in the energy sector" refers to the basic principles of cooperation in the energy sector. These include the implementation of unimpeded transit of energy resources to international markets, as well as ensuring security of supply and necessary infrastructure.
International Energy Charter has been developed and adopted in the early 1990's. It included free access of European countries to the Russian resources and pipelines, but Europe itself was closed for the Russian energy investment.
April 20, the draft was submitted to the Russian president during his visit to Finland, and then sent to the leadership of "Big twenty" (G20) and the "Big Eight" (G8), as well as CIS countries and partners of Russia. April 21, Russia offers to cooperate in the energy sector supported Ukraine.

Gazprom has not received from Turkmenistan claims for damages from the accident.

2009-04-21T17:04:00.000-07:00

KommentariiNe waiting for? Saechku of fright! 10.04.2009Turkmeniya accused Gazprom of subversive deyatelnostiSyuzhetyGazovy conflict "Gazprom" and Turkmenii14.04.2009Vinovnye in an accident on the Turkmen gas pipeline will be required to bear the cost of repairs, Gazprom has not yet been received from Turkmenistan written proposals or demands for compensation for damage from the accident at Pipeline CAC-4 (Central Asia-Center). About Interfax reports with reference to the source close to the Russian concern. Now, negotiations on a political level, and specific solutions have not yet been adopted.
According to Interfax, one of the causes of the accident at the pipeline was the lack of action of technical staff working on the pipeline. April 14, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov said that the culprit in the pipeline accident CAC-4, must assume all costs associated with repairs.
Remember, an explosion at a gas station CAC-4 in Turkmenistan occurred on the night of 9 April 2009. As a result of the accident, Turkmen gas is completely stopped come to Russia. Later Turkmenistan to blame the accident on "Gazprom", saying that the Russian company, without prior notice to drastically reduced the selection of the gas, resulting in additional load on the pipeline.
Gas CAC-4 is located on the territory of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. According to Turkmen gas is transported by pipeline to Russia. The throughput capacity of CAC-4 is 80 billion cubic meters of gas a year.

China will build on the Yangtze more than 20 dams.

2009-04-21T16:02:00.000-07:00

By 2020, China intends to build on the Yangtze River for more than 20 dams for the development of hydropower. That was reported by Associated Press on Tuesday, 21 April.
On the Yangtze is already the world's largest hydroelectric power station "Three Gorges", construction of which will be completed by 2010. AP notes that the Chinese government sees the development of hydropower alternative coal (currently 70 per cent of China's energy provide coal energy). On the government plans for construction of 20 dams, reported the press Syi Hu (Hu Siyi), Deputy Minister of Water Resources of China.
Meanwhile, according to the AP, these plans are fears among Chinese ecologists. A recent report by the Chinese Academy of Sciences pointed out that the HPP Three Gorges "has harmed the river ecosystem, including fishery resources. Moreover, as noted experts, since 2006, due to climatic change of rainfall in the world is reduced, so the prospects for development of small hydropower.
According to the State Committee on Water Resources of the Yangtze, is now used by 36 per cent of the energy capacity of the rivers. By 2060 the Government of China has plans to use 60 per cent. According to the AP, the state of "Xinhua reported in April 2009 that, beginning in 2003, the HPP Three Gorges provides 8.8 percent enegropotrebnostey China. Recall the construction of the world's largest hydro power was launched in 1992.

Yushchenko has found shortcomings in the arrangements Tymoshenko and IMF.

2009-04-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

KommentariiKreditor last nadezhdy20.04.2009Missiya the IMF will continue lending to Ukraine Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has asked Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to review and refine the government regulations, adopted for the second tranche adjustment loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF ). UNIAN reported with reference to a letter from the Ukrainian president, addressed to the Head of Government.
Remember, as a condition for receiving the next tranche of IMF credit demanded from Ukraine a number of bills aimed at improving fiscal discipline. But in April the Verkhovna Rada refused to even make them on the agenda of its meetings, after which the Cabinet of Ministers at its extraordinary meeting on April 14, took them to bypass the parliament as a self-regulations. In particular, a balanced budget "Naftogaz Ukraine" and the Pension Fund, as well as the decision to recapitalize the system of credit institutions, in which the administration launched the National Bank of Ukraine.
In a letter Yushchenko stressed that welcomes government action on the adoption of separate decisions necessary for the continuation of cooperation with the IMF. However, in a package of regulations, there are a number of acts that do not require settlement in cooperation with the IMF. These regulations need to be reviewed.
The IMF agreed to provide Ukraine a loan of 16.5 billion dollars more in autumn 2008. The first tranche of a loan of 4,5 billion dollars was received at the same time, the second - at 1.9 billion - was due to the country in February this year, and a third, amounting to 3.73 billion, is expected in May. However, the IMF suspended disbursement of funds Ukrainian side, in particular, due to the adoption of the budget deficit country.
17 April, the IMF mission in Ukraine agreed that Ukraine's budget deficit could reach 4 percent of GDP. In addition, the mission said they would recommend to the Ukrainian side of the second tranche of the loan to 2.8 billion dollars.

Ministry of Finance has introduced a reform of UST in the main tax bill.

2009-04-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

Comments not found, not weighed "16.04.2009Kudrin pozhuril Assistant Medvedev and the Minister of Economic Development for optimism Crisis nalogooblozhenie14.04.2009Chinovniki invented several tax reformSyuzhetyBorba reduction NDS15.04.2009Dvorkovich promised reduction the VAT rate in 2011 goduMinfin completed the "Basic directions of tax policy for 2010-2012 years", without specifying in any detail the planned government reforms in 2010 the unified social tax (UST). Also in the document there is no word on the reduction of VAT rates, which offset the anticipated increase in business tax burden. The newspaper Kommersant wrote that the withdrawal from the reform of the Ministry of Finance UST can only stop the forthcoming budget message from the President of the country.
Reform UST in "Key" is devoted only one sentence, which states that the tax in 2010 will be repealed. The new insurance premiums, which will be replaced by UST, taxes are not, therefore, will be administered Pension Fund (RPF), alone and in the competence of the Ministry of Finance, which is controlled Revenue Service no longer fall. It should be noted that earlier the Ministry of Finance opposed the transfer of control of the RPF collects payments.
Recall and replacement of UST (rate - 26 per cent) three sotsplatezhami in pension, medical and social funds will occur in 2010 and for 2011 planned increase pressures on the labor remuneration fund from 26 to 34 percent. Estimates of the Future Enhancement of tax burdens vary and range from 300 billion to 1.4 trillion rubles.
The newspaper Vedomosti said that the draft MOF has not yet been agreed. Now the Ministry of Economic Development is preparing its counter-proposals for the "main lines".
Recall that the Ministry of Finance serves to dramatically reduce the VAT. For example, the Minister of Finance of Russia Alexey Kudrin considers "statements to the public" suggestions, Assistant President of Russia Arkady Dvorkovich (prepares the budget message) and the Minister of Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina compensation business replacement UST at the insurance premiums.
Dvorkovich previously served with the statement that the State may reduce the VAT in 2011, and Elvira Nabiullina proposed to exempt from VAT and advances to improve the depreciation bonus to 50 percent (this measure is also not included in the "main direction" MOF). According to Kudrin, think about reducing any taxes in 2011 was premature.
The budget message - the traditional treatment of President of Russia to the Federal Assembly. Message from the President determines the priorities of the Russian economy over the next three years. Moreover, in this paper the President may instruct the Government to develop and carry out some reforms. Usually, the president signs the message at the end of May.

Gazprom called the largest gas suppliers in 2030.

2009-04-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

After 2030, the world will be only three major suppliers of gas - Iran, Qatar and Russia. The statement was made by Deputy Chairman of Gazprom, Alexander Medvedev, the PRIME-TASS. He added that all other suppliers through the 20-25 years old will not be able to fill existing and projected gas pipeline systems.
Medvedev also said that in the long run, European consumers will require additional amounts of fuel. At the same time expect that the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) will not be able to fully supply these volumes. According to him, there is at least about 100 billion cubic meters of gas a year.
Alexander Medvedev said that demand growth in Europe requires the implementation of the new gas pipeline projects, in particular, the pipeline "Nord Stream and South Stream." It is anticipated that the gas will supply the European countries Russian gas through the bottom of the Baltic and Black Seas, respectively.
According to the CIA World Factbook, at the beginning of 2008, Russia possesses the largest proven reserves of natural gas in the world - about 44.7 trillion cubic meters. Iran and Qatar were the second and third place (26.8 and 25.6 trillion cubic meters, respectively). Going to the fourth position of Saudi Arabia has only 7 trillion cubic meters.
In October 2008 the leaders of the gas industry of Russia, Iran and Qatar announced the creation of so-called "gas troika", which is scheduled to discuss issues related to the global gas market. Each side has rejected the assumption that the "troika" could be established to govern the world price for this type of fuel.
Earlier, representatives of Gazprom, which produces about 90 percent of Russian gas, said that over the next five years, mining monopoly could be reduced by 10 percent. The reasons cited reduced demand for gas in the world due to global economic crisis.

Chapter UPC Bastrykin was twice richer Prosecutor General Chaika.

2009-04-21T11:40:00.000-07:00

Russian Prosecutor General's Office has published details of income and property of its employees, writes in the April 21 issue of the newspaper Kommersant.
As can be seen from the document, on-site office, the most extensive employee of the Prosecutor General was the head of the UPC, Alexander Bastrykin, earned in 2008, 5.2 million rubles. The property Bastrykina there are two apartments (216 and 60 square meters), as well as leased cottage. At the same time, the spouse Bastrykina, in addition to the common property of the husband is the proprietress of apartment in the Czech area and 42 square meters of car Toyota Corolla. "
Second income for the year 2008 became a deputy prosecutor general, Yuri Chaika, Alexander Zvyagintsev, specializing in the international area. Last year, he earned nearly 4 million rubles, which owns a house, apartment, garage and cottage rents. The main source of income Zvyagintseva have noticed in the General Prosecutor's Office, is writing.
Revenues of the General Prosecutor Chaika, meanwhile, have been modest, said publication. Thus, the gull has earned over the past year, slightly more than two million rubles, while real estate, according to his declaration, the Prosecutor General did not have. Both vehicles specified in the declaration of Seagulls - GAZ-13 Chayka and SUV GAZ-69 - were presented to him, and now, according to the newspaper, not on the go. However, the prosecutor general's wife - Elena Chaika - earned three times more than the husband - more than 7.5 million rubles. She also owns a flat area of 204 square meters land (4.3 thousand square meters), as well as non-residential area of 175 square meters.
Most of the properties proved at the Deputy Prosecutor General Sabir Kehlerova. With earnings of about 2,3 million rubles Kehlerov owns two houses (in the Moscow region - 200 square meters, and in Dagestan - 212 square meters), rented a summer cottage, the land area of 1.5 thousand square meters, as well as an apartment.
Commenting on the publication of information about income, the representative of the Prosecutor General Marina Gridneva stressed that such a move demonstrates the transparency of agency and desire to put an end to corruption. Nevertheless, the Russian State Duma deputy and journalist Alexander Hinshteyn questioned the truthfulness of the acquired funds by officials. Hinshteyn, in particular, questioned the "transparency" of the proceeds of Chapter UPC Bastrykina received them, according to the media, from lectures and writing books on jurisprudence. Most of the lectures was given in Bastrykinym led by his ex-wife of the North-West branch of the Russian Legal Academy of the Ministry of Justice, in connection with "the legality of imposing a receipt of fees necessary to check", says Hinshteyn.
Earlier, in April of their income for the year 2008 reported to the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the federal government and members of the presidential administration, as well as members of the Administration of St. Petersburg, led by Mayor Valentina Matvienko.

Russia will exclude Cyprus from the list offshore.

2009-04-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

Cyprus will soon be deleted from the list of offshore Ministry of Finance. This writes the newspaper Vedomosti, citing the statement by Vice-Premier and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin. In doing so, Cyprus has undertaken to disclose information about companies of interest to the Russian tax.
Ministry of Finance of Russia and Cyprus signed a protocol that provides for changes to the agreement on avoidance of double taxation between the two countries. Now regulators in Russia and Cyprus will be able to exchange confidential information, including the owners of registered companies in Cyprus. This company may be denied in the provision of tax benefits, if that is the main purpose of registration of companies in Cyprus. However, for the entry into force would require a separate law.
Now the agreement of Russia and Cyprus on the Avoidance of Double Taxation with respect to taxes on income and capital ", which was signed by the two governments in 1998, allowing Russian companies registered in Cyprus, to optimize taxes, said the newspaper" Kommersant ". The document also provides information exchange with Russia, but the wording in the document allows the denial of information in the event that a request for it contradicts the laws of Cyprus. As a result, in January 2008 the state got into the black list of Russian Ministry of Finance.
Now in Cyprus for the optimization of taxation in Russia, many registered companies, non-residents who are shareholders of Russian companies. For example, such structures have oil and gas company Itera, Nornikelya "," Rostelecom ", the rail operator Globaltrans" KamAZ, power TGK-4, Investment Company "Troika Dialog" and many others. In addition, through its offices in the Cyprus stock market are "Renaissance Capital", BKS, "Opening" and many other Russian brokers. According to the data, which leads "Kommersant", about 90 percent of transactions on the stock exchange RTS runs through Offshore.
Offshore financial centers are traditionally considered to be attracting foreign capital through the provision of special incentives to foreign companies that agree to register in the offshore.

Medvedev introduced the replacement of Russia's Energy Charter.

2009-04-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev during his visit to Finland, introduced a draft international instrument, designed to partially or completely replaced by the Energy Charter. This writes the newspaper Kommersant. "In particular, the document proposed to the European Union jointly control the transit of energy resources, modernization of gas transportation systems, and develop international energy balances, based on supply and demand of energy for a long period.
According to Assistant to the President Arkady Dvorkovich, a draft international instrument consists of three sections. The first refers to the principles of international energy cooperation, in the second - on the transit of energy resources, and resolving potential conflicts, while the third contains a list of energy resources, including oil, gas, nuclear fuel, coal and electricity.
According to the Kommersant, Russia proposed the replacement of the Energy Charter is directed against the Brussels Declaration of Ukraine and the European Union, sought to restrict the access of Gazprom to the Ukrainian transit.
The reason for the development of a new instrument was that the Energy Charter does not take into account the interests of Russia. The Energy Charter and other documents do not resolve some issues of energy security, and we have not ratified these documents and do not consider themselves bound by these decisions, "- said Medvedev during a meeting with Finnish President Tarja Halonen.
The Energy Charter has been developed in the early 1990's. It includes free access to Russian resources in Europe and monopolistic pipelines on a pro rata basis, as is done in the European Union. However, the Europe that has remained closed for the Russian energy investment.
In March 2009, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko signed in Brussels together with the European Union declaration on the modernization of the transmission system. This document provides the access of European companies to the Ukrainian underground storage facilities and pipes. The Declaration was drafted and adopted without the participation of the Russian side.

Obama asked to cut the budget to U.S. $ 100 million.

2009-04-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

In his first meeting with cabinet ministers, U.S. President Barack Obama demanded that the Government within three months to cut the federal budget at $ 100 million, AFP reported 20 April.
This measure is designed to at least slightly reduce the budget deficit, which amounted in 2009 fiscal year ending September 30, at least 1.7 trillion dollars. The journalist's question, not whether the U.S. president that amount "a drop in the ocean," Obama responded a joke. "One hundred million here, a hundred million there - look, even in Washington to meet a substantial amount," - he said.
Previously, the administration took the unprecedented Obama infusions of money to revive the American economy in crisis. According to Obama, "it was done correctly, but the government should do everything possible to use this money as effectively as possible, so you need to cut the budget.
Remember, in February, was approved by the so-called "Obama plan", under which the State will provide for the salvation of the national economy 838 billion dollars. At the beginning of the financial crisis, the administration of President George W. Bush adopted a program of assistance to the banking sector, which includes the purchase of bad assets worth over 700 billion. The total amount of state aid to American businesses, given the tax cuts should amount to nearly three trillion dollars.

The number of unemployed in Russia more than 7 million people.

2009-04-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyRost unemployment Rossii15.04.2009Tempy growth of unemployment in Russia for a week not izmenilisKommentariiLegche not stalo15.04.2009Kompanii worldwide continue to reduce the total number of states without the work of the people of Russia in the first quarter of this year amounted to 7107 million. This is stated in the official media of Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat). The unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2009 reached 9.5 percent.
According to Rosstat, at the end of February, the total unemployment in the country stood at 6.4 million. However, as previously predicted MHSD, the overall unemployment rate was up about seven million people only to the end of the year.
For information MHSD, the number of officially registered unemployed on April 8, to 2.234 billion people. However, as predicted ministry official unemployment rate was up to the end of the year 2,2-2,8 million.
April 14, reported that the number of "hidden" unemployment, that is being forced to leave or working part time, was 1.24 million. Overall since the crisis in October 2008 of the reductions reported more than 32 thousand organizations.

"Nord Stream" seek funding for the construction in credit markets.

2009-04-21T06:22:00.000-07:00

The company Nord Stream AG, managing the construction of gas pipeline "Northern stream" on the bottom of the Baltic Sea, will start searching for funding in credit markets. This transmits "Interfax" referring to the statement findirektora Company Paul Corcoran. According to him, Nord Stream will bring 3.5 billion euros over the next few months.
At the same time, Assistant to the President of Russia Arkady Dvorkovich said in Helsinki that Finland can give consent for the construction of Nord Stream to the end of 2009, reports RIA Novosti. Recall that the construction work could begin only after the consent of the five countries in the territorial waters of which will be the route threads. In addition to Finland and Russia is also required approval by Sweden, Denmark and Germany.
Previously, it was reported that Nord Stream AG to calculate the environmental risks of pipeline construction. According to estimates by ecologists involved, the risk to the environment is a "moderate." Expertise has been referred to the appropriate agencies in five countries in early March. If a country does not give approval for construction before the end of the year, laying a gas pipeline may be delayed.
In January 2009, chairman of the committee of shareholders Nord Stream AG, the former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said that the first thread Nord Stream gas pipeline will come into operation in October 2011. The second stage of the project will be operational in 2012. The cost of the pipeline is estimated at 7.4 billion euros.
In parallel with the Nord Stream ( "Nord Stream"), "Gazprom" plans to lay another pipeline - South Stream ( "South Stream"), which runs under the Black Sea. After the project, Gazprom will be able to directly export gas to Europe and the EU will receive the fuel at lower prices.

The difference between male and female unemployment in the United States reached a record.

2009-04-20T17:22:00.000-07:00

The gap between male and female unemployment in the United States reached a record level since 1948, when the Ministry of Labor started to keep statistics. This writes the newspaper The Financial Times. The unemployment rate for men since the beginning of a recession in December 2007 reached 8.8 percent, and among women - 7 per cent. First, these figures hardly differed and is about five percent each.
Since the beginning of a recession in the U.S. economy has lost 5.1 million jobs. Of these, 80 percent were men. This means that soon the majority of employed Americans would be women. According to the FT, if this trend continues, most American families have to live off women, who traditionally earn an average of 20 per cent less than men. It threatens a decline in living standards in the country.
The emergence of this imbalance was due to the fact that the job cuts began in the sectors that are traditionally employed men. In particular, we are talking about building, where 9 out of 10 workers - men, and industry, where men are 7 out of 10 employees. Women, in turn, are generally in health and education. In these sectors, where the reduction was minimal, 75 per cent - are women.
In early April 2009 the U.S. Department of Labor announced that in March this year, the unemployment rate in the country reached 8.5 percent. A month earlier the rate was 8.1 percent. Within a month of work lost 694 thousand people, and the total number of unemployed amounted to 13.2 million.

Georgia has decided to build a gas.

2009-04-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

The Georgian government decided to build gas storage, the Internet edition Day.Az. It is anticipated that gas will be erected in the town of Ninotsminda, where gas is extracted.
The volume of the future of storage will be 400 million cubic meters of gas. It was expected that this amount be enough to provide Georgia with gas within two to three months.
Design work on the future of gas storage facilities shall, according to preliminary data, completed in the next nine months. Another two years will require the construction of the facility.
Investor draft has not yet been determined, but will co-finance the work of the U.S. "Millennium Challenge Fund." Previously reported that the fund has already allocated 18 million dollars on a feasibility study the project and its environmental impact assessment.
Now Georgia is provided by gas in the first place through imports of fuel from Azerbaijan. In addition, some gas is supplied to the country from Russia.

Tax levies in the budget of Russia fell by 7 per cent.

2009-04-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

Tax revenues to the Russian budget in January-March 2009 decreased by seven percent over the same period last year. This is stated in the official press release issued at the site of the Federal Tax Service (NRF), Russia.
For comparison, the first two months of 2009, tax revenue declined by 13.5 percent compared to January-February 2008.
Total in the first quarter of this year the federal budget was 735 billion rubles. The bulk of tax revenue, 45 percent, was the collection of VAT. Share NDPI (The mineral extraction tax) amounted to 23 per cent of total fees, and UST, and the profit tax - 15 and 13 percent respectively.
Proceeds of VAT to the budget of the Russian Federation in January-March 2009 amounted to 329 billion rubles, an increase of 3.5 times compared with the first quarter of last year. Charges NDPI amounted to 169 billion rubles, which decreased by 2,2 times in comparison with January-March 2008 due to falling oil prices. Proceeds from the tax on profits reached 95 billion rubles, down to 1.8 times in comparison with the first quarter of last year.
Earlier in the Ministry of Finance stated that in 2009 the collection of taxes to the federal budget in a crisis can significantly drop. In particular, it was assumed that revenues from income taxes to decrease by 30 percent.

Russia no fine be imposed on Belarus for the shortage of gas.

2009-04-20T13:28:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyTseny on the gas to the CIS in 2009 godu27.03.2009Belorussiya agreed price for Russian gazRossiya will not be fined for shortage of gas to Belarus in 2009. The statement was made by the Ambassador of Russia to Belarus Alexander Surikov, Interfax reports. According to Surikov, Belarus can nedobrat on the basis of 2009, five billion cubic meters of gas. The reason for this was the warm winter, as well as reduced production at the Belarusian enterprises.
According to the contract concluded between Beltransgaz and Gazprom, Belarus must be redeemed in 2009, 21.6 billion cubic meters of gas. In 2008 this figure amounted to 21.1 billion cubic meters, which is 2.3 billion less than the planned figure.
At the end of March 2009 it was reported that Belarus had agreed on price for Russian gas. Earlier, Russian media reported that the average price for gas for Belarus could reach 148 dollars per thousand cubic meters. However, Gazprom announced that an agreement to pay for Russian gas at a fixed average price does not exist.
Earlier, Gazprom had promised to waive the penalties for arrears of gas to Ukraine. This was in early March 2009 chairman of the board of Gazprom Alexei Miller. According to the prisoner in the January 2009 contract, "Naftogaz" to be imported this year, 40 billion cubic meters of gas. Later, the Ukrainian company has asked to reduce gas supplies to 33 billion cubic meters.
Ukraine reduced gas imports from Russia because of the sharp decline in GDP and reduction in industrial production due to the effects of global crisis. For these same reasons have been reduced fuel supplies to Europe. In connection with the reduction in the volume of gas deliveries, as well as reducing fuel costs, the profit of Gazprom fell significantly. By some estimates, in 2009, Gazprom lost at least 200 billion rubles of revenue.

Oil prices again fell below 50 dollars a barrel.

2009-04-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

Prices for U.S. WTI oil brand again fell below 50 dollars a barrel. In the system of electronic trading on the Nymex crude oil supply in May to 11:10 Moscow time cheaper by 81 cents to 49.52 dollars per barrel. At the same time, European Brent with delivery in June traded in the region of 52.55 dollars - a 80 cents lower than Friday, April 17.
According to the agency AFP, investors began to sell contracts for crude oil, responding to an increase in stocks in the United States against a background of low demand for hydrocarbons in a crisis.
Recall that oil prices are fluctuating around a mark of 50 dollars a barrel for several weeks. This is significantly higher than at the beginning of the year, when oil was estimated slightly higher than 40 dollars a barrel.
In 2008, oil prices reached a record 147 dollars a barrel. This occurred against the backdrop of increased consumption on the part of many countries in the world, and because of the increasing number of speculators in the market, which used the oil contracts as a way to diversify investment portfolios. In addition, the dollar in mid-2008 has fallen against major world currencies.
The financial crisis in the world led to the consumption of oil has fallen. After it began to decline and oil prices. Organization of the countries - exporters of oil, OPEC has reduced the quota for the extraction of hydrocarbons, but oil prices have recovered only partially.

President of Fannie Mae will save the U.S. economy.

2009-04-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

President of the largest U.S. mortgage agency Fannie Mae, Herbert Allison (Herbert Allison) was the candidate of the White House for the office responsible for the disbursement of funds as part of a plan to rescue the U.S. economy (Trouble Asset Relief Program - TARP). This was on Friday reported Associated Press.
If the nomination is approved Ellison U.S. Senate, he will be formally appointed Deputy Minister of Finance of the U.S. Timothy Gaytnera for financial stability.
In Fannie Mae information on the appointment of Ellison and his resignation as president of the company declined comment. According to The Wall Street Journal, a likely candidate for the post of Ellison, if he eventually leaves the agency, will be Michael J. Williams (Michael J. Williams), has extensive experience in the company in senior positions.
According to the AP, as responsible for anti-crisis program of the U.S. will succeed Allison Neil Kashkar (Neel Kashkari), approved to the post during the administration of George W. Bush. Previously reported on the appointment of Neil Barofski (Neil Barofsky) for the post of auditor of funds under the program of TARP. Whether the same post, did not specify.
Recall plan to adopt anti-crisis measures for improving the economic situation in the United States, provides 787 billion dollars to overcome the effects of the financial crisis.
Fannie Mae, along with other major U.S. agency mortgage - Freddie Mac - to act as guarantors for the mortgage commitments amounting to 5.3 trillion dollars, which corresponds to approximately half of all U.S. mortgage market. Only since the beginning of 2008 due to the mortgage crisis, loss of agencies exceeded $ 14 billion.

The IMF agreed to a budget deficit in Ukraine.

2009-04-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyAntikrizisnye loans MVF14.04.2009Bosniya asked the IMF to Ukraine krediteDefitsit budget could reach four per cent of GDP. This conclusion came the International Monetary Fund mission to Ukraine, said in an official press release of the fund. Earlier, the IMF said that given Ukraine a loan only if it can adopt strengthened.
Recall that Ukraine has agreed with the IMF on a loan of 16.5 billion dollars as early as 2008. At the same time the Government was able to get the first tranche of four and a half billion dollars. The second tranche of the IMF should have been allocated in February, but did not do so because of the adoption of the budget deficit.
After that, the IMF mission in Ukraine left the country for consultations with the leadership. She returned to Ukraine in early April. Prior to this, the IMF called on Ukraine to approve several bills aimed at improving fiscal discipline, but this was not done.
Nevertheless, the IMF mission said that Ukraine would recommend the second tranche of the loan to 2.8 billion dollars. In addition, Ukrainian media reported that the IMF mission will be to request guidance on the allocation of the Government of Yulia Tymoshenko further assistance.
In turn, Yulia Tymoshenko said that the IMF could combine the second and third tranches of credit. She also notes that part of the fund will go to cover the deficit budget.
Ukraine IMF loan needed during the economic crisis, which revenue has decreased significantly. At the same time, Ukraine has had to spend additional funds in support of the affected companies and the recapitalization of banks. This resulted in a deficit budget.
Because of the crisis, many developing countries asked for IMF loans. In particular, the International Fund has provided funds, Iceland, Hungary, Latvia, and a number of other countries in the world.

Debts of wages in Russia grew by 8 per cent per month.

2009-04-17T18:34:00.000-07:00

Back wages of Russian organizations in March rose by 8.3 per cent to 8755 billion rubles. This was reported in the press release Rosstat. Last month, an increase of debts on wages was 16.1 percent. A total volume of debt amounted to about two per cent of the total payroll.
The main reason for delays is the lack of organizations of their own resources: it accounted for 94.5 percent of total debt (an increase of 9.5 percent, or 718 million rubles). Debts arising from the delayed payments from the budgets of all levels, increased by 9.5 per cent, amounting to 486 million rubles.
Debt has risen in 47 states and declined in 32 subjects. The largest amount of arrears due to lack of own funds are in the Khabarovsk and Krasnoyarsk Krai, and the Moscow region.
Among the branches of one of the worst performance demonstrates agriculture, where workers must be around 5 per cent of all relying monthly payments. In education, health and social services, the figure is 0.1 percent.
Simultaneously with the growth of a delay in salary in Russia is increasing and the number of unemployed. According to the MHSD, the number of unemployed in the country was at 8 April 2234 million people. During the latest reporting week, it rose by 1.6 percent.

African countries have set up a customs union.

2009-04-17T17:32:00.000-07:00

KommentariiProschay, dollar13.04.2009Pravitelstvo Zimbabwe has suspended the use of valyutyStrany, members of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, COMESA), agreed to establish a unified customs union in June 2009 . Reported agency AFP.
According to the Secretary General of COMESA Sindizo Ngvenya (Sindiso Ngwenya), Union will help to increase trade volume of State - participants in the organization. As noted Ngvenya, the last time this figure has increased from 3.1 billion to 9.2 billion dollars, but still represents less than ten percent of potential volume.
The announcement of the establishment of a customs union will be made during the summit of the organization, which will be held June 7-8 in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. The initial meeting was held in May 2008, but postponed twice due to the economic crisis in Zimbabwe. Help the Zimbabwean economy will also be discussed at the summit.
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa was formed in 1994. The organization brings together 19 countries with a total population of more than 400 million people. Participants in COMESA are Burundi, Comoros and Seychelles, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Egypt, Libya, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Eurozone trade deficit narrowed to five times per month.

2009-04-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

Eurozone trade deficit in February 2009 dropped to five times - from 10,9 to 2 billion euro, reports AFP referring to data by Eurostat. In February 2008, this figure was recorded at level of 1,7 billion euro.
Exports of the euro, taking into account seasonal factors in February rose by 0.5 percent in January, and imports, by contrast, fell by 0.8 percent in January down to 8.3 percent by December. The drop in imports to a greater extent due to lower prices for hydrocarbons, a moderate increase in exports, which in January fell to 11.9 per cent, economists believe the interim.
Overall, in February the country eurozone exports of goods and services to 103.3 billion euros, while imported 107.2 billion euros.
Â It is also worth noting that the EU trade deficit fell in February to 10.6 billion euros to 27.2 billion euros in January.

IMF mission called the volume of the second tranche of the loan Ukraine.

2009-04-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyAntikrizisnye loans MVF14.04.2009Bosniya asked the IMF for krediteMissiya International Monetary Fund in Ukraine will recommend that the Board of Directors of the IMF to approve the allocation of the Government of Yulia Tymoshenko to 2.8 billion dollars as the second tranche of the loan in 16, 5 billion dollars. This is the agency "RBC-Ukraine", referring to the statement of the IMF mission Dzheylu Pazarbazioglu (Ceyla Pazarbasioglu).
In turn, Yulia Tymoshenko said that half of the second tranche will cover the budget deficit. Previously, it was reported that the IMF mission will recommend to his superiors to increase the total credit line for Ukraine.
Recall that the IMF and Ukraine agree on loan to 16.5 billion dollars as early as 2008. The second tranche of the IMF loan was listed in February 2009, but did not do so due to the fact that officials were not able to suit the budget of Ukraine to IMF deficit.
In February, the IMF mission left the Ukraine for consultations with the leadership. As a result of these consultations, the IMF demanded that the Ukraine a number of bills aimed at improving fiscal discipline. Despite the fact that they have not yet been adopted, the IMF mission returned to Kiev on April 8.
According to recent data, the IMF mission will stay in Ukraine even one or two days, then leave for new consultations with the leadership. It was after them and will be decided on the allocation of the next tranche of loan Ukraine. Earlier, Yulia Tymoshenko stated that he considered it appropriate to connect the second and third tranches.
Ukraine asked the IMF loans because of the sharp deterioration of the economy against the backdrop of global financial crisis. Because it has ceased to act in the budget a significant portion of income, but the Government needed additional funds to combat unemployment, losses of banks and other consequences of the crisis.
According to the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Mykola Tomenko, a loan from the IMF has been received for 15 years under four per cent annually.

Pakistan receives two billion dollars to support the economy.

2009-04-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

U.S. and Japan will provide financial assistance to Pakistan in the overall size of two billion dollars to fight extremism and support the economy. This writes the newspaper The Wall Street Journal. According to Taro Aso, Prime Minister of Japan, which agreed to provide Pakistan a billion dollars, the funds required to Pakistan in the first place for the implementation of economic reforms.
The decision on granting of loans was made at the Conference of Donor Countries Pakistan (Pakistan Donors Conference), held in Tokyo on 17 April 2009. The Government of Pakistan will be Japanese and American loans in several tranches over the next two years. As the newspaper explained, the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari (Asif Ali Zardari), counted on the financial assistance in the amount of six billion dollars.
Later it became known that the outcome of the conference by participating countries pledged to give Pakistan means a total of five billion dollars. In particular, Saudi Arabia declared its readiness to transfer the country's $ 700 million, the EU - 640 million dollars, and Iran - over 300 million dollars. That was reported by Bloomberg.
Note that Pakistan receives regular financial support not only from the major countries of the world, but also from international financial institutions. Thus, at the end of 2008 the country had received 3.6 billion dollars from 7.6 billion International Monetary Fund. In addition, in 2008, Japan provided 480 million dollars to Pakistan and the U.S. promised the country each year to allocate 1.5 billion dollars over five years.
Borrowings are required to Pakistan in particular, to improve certain financial indicators, fell with the global financial and economic crisis. Pakistani authorities, as required by the IMF, it is necessary to reduce the balance of payments deficit with the current seven to four per cent of GDP.

China has provided a loan to Kazakhstan for $ 10 billion.

2009-04-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

China Kazakhstan will provide a loan of 10 billion dollars. Half of them will leave in the energy sector. The Chinese state oil company CNPC will provide a credit line of $ 5 billion of Kazakh national oil and gas corporation Kazmunaigas, reports AFP.
In addition, CNPC has agreed on a joint with KazMunayGas "redemption shares" Mangistaumunaygaza "from the Indonesian Central Asia Petroleum. Previously, it was reported that China Development Bank has provided Kazakhstan State Development Bank loan of 100 million dollars.
Since autumn last year, Chinese State-owned corporations and banks to acquire shares in foreign companies, as well as provide them with stabilization credits. The greatest interest among the representatives of China are primary assets. In particular, Chinalco has acquired shares in the mines of Australia. In addition, China agreed with Russia on the 20-year guarantee of oil supplies in exchange for a loan of 25 billion, Rosneft and Transneft.
Many of the oil and gas sector because of the credit crisis and a sharp drop in oil prices experienced a shortage of funds, forcing them to seek outside investors. Recall that the price of oil over the past year, down from a record 147 dollars to 50 dollars per barrel.

The number of Russians secured reduced by 15 percent in 2009.

2009-04-17T12:14:00.000-07:00

In 2009, the segment is secured Russians in Russia will decline by 15 percent, and the restoration of the richest income citizens will be not earlier than three years. This is stated in the study investstrategy secured Russians held Citigroup and the New Economic School (NES), writes the newspaper Kommersant. In this pessimistic scenario corresponds to the forecast recovery in income within 10-15 years.
It is estimated Citigroup and NES in 2008, secured to a segment of the Russians (mass affluent) in Russia could be among 1.2 million people - 0.8 percent of the population. This layer belongs to the assets of 4.2 trillion rubles (10 per cent of GDP) and 40 percent of all private deposits of the banking system. In addition, this class accounts for 30 percent of all income in Russia.
Segment secured Russians differ from the middle class that has a substantial financial reserve of liquid funds, and of the richest people of the country so that the latter use of personal banking services. By the middle class include 20-25 per cent of Russia, including employees of large companies, small and medium business and bureaucracy.
It should be noted that from 2003 to 2008, secured the number of people has increased in 2,5 times. The main factor is that the dynamics of economic growth: odnoprotsentny GDP growth leads to a secured 16 thousand people.

Pension Fund recruit 10 thousand employees, under the reform of the social tax.

2009-04-17T11:10:00.000-07:00

KommentariiAntikrizisnoe nalogooblozhenie14.04.2009Chinovniki invented several tax reformPensionnomu Russia Fund (RPF) will need 10 thousand new staff to undertake a planned government of the 2010 reform of the unified social tax (UST). This writes the newspaper Kommersant, citing the statement of the Chairman of the RPF Anton Drozdov. The achievement of only half of the new FIU staff in 2010 will require 1.5 billion rubles. Now the State of the RPF is 130 thousand people.
Drozdov believes that the RPF should be independently administer contributions to pension and health insurance, as has the most comprehensive database of Russians. According Drozdova, in the coming weeks an amendment to the pension legislation relating to transfer of functions of the RPF tax administration data contribution to be made to the government with a package of other changes related to the reform of UST.
Kommersant said that earlier the Ministry of Finance has opposed the transfer of control of the RPF collects payments.
It was expected that the reform of UST (rate - 26 percent), according to which the tax will be replaced by contributions to pension, medical and social funds, held in 2010. However, the Ministry calculated that because of the reform of UST in 2010, pressure on wages will grow by 36 percent, and in 2011 - a 42 per cent. Therefore, this reform was proposed to postpone for a year, not to increase the fiscal burden on business. In the end, officials decided to keep the overall rate of assessment at the level of 26 per cent of payroll, and since 2011 - increasing to around 34 percent.

Growth rate of unemployment in Russia in the week have not changed.

2009-04-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyRost unemployment Rossii30.03.2009Tempy rising unemployment snizyatsyaChislennost officially registered unemployed in Russia was by 8 April 2234 million people, according to a press release MHSD. Last week, the number of unemployed people rose by 1.6 percent. Thus, the growth rate of unemployment in Russia remained on the same level as in the previous week, the figure rose by the same 1.6 percent.
March 30, Vice Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said that the peak growth of unemployment in Russia passed. In doing so, he has not provided accurate statistics to support their words.
The most significant increase in the number of unemployed in the week from 2 to 8 April was reported in the Kaliningrad, Penza, Vologda, Kirov, Orenburg, and fields, as well as in St. Petersburg. On discharge from October 2008 had already reported 32.3 thousand organizations, and the number of laid-off employees for the six months amounted to 314 thousand people.
Number of employees in a simple, or on leave at the initiative of the administration, as well as part-time workers, has reached 1.24 million.
According to the MHSD, the official unemployment rate in the country on the basis of 2009 may reach 2.2 to 2.8 million. Thus, the lower bound of this interval was overcome by 8 April. With regard to the overall unemployment rate, it can achieve in 7 million.

Poland asked the IMF 20 billion U.S. dollars.

2009-04-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyAntikrizisnye loans MVF14.04.2009Bosniya asked about the IMF kreditePolsha asked the International Monetary Fund about opening a credit line of $ 20 billion dollars to increase foreign exchange reserves and curb the possible speculative attacks on national currencies, reported AFP, citing Minister of Finance Jan Rostov.
According to Rostov, the measure is not an "emergency", and the funds will not be used in the budget. Instead, billions of the IMF will be kept in the accounts of the Polish Securities and used in case an opportunity arise in the future.
Managing Director of IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn authorities approved the move in Poland. He said that such a tool should be used by those economies that have demonstrated good performance, despite the global economic krizis.VVP Poland, on the basis of 2008 grew by 4.8 percent, significantly better than in most countries of Eastern Europe. For example, Estonia and Latvia by the end of the year have shown negative dynamics of the GDP.
Eastern European States were the most active applicants assistance from the IMF due to the fact that the region is stronger than the others affected by the global crisis. The IMF has provided loans of Romania, Ukraine, Hungary, Latvia and Serbia, for a total of about $ 80 billion.

Russia Kudrin naprorochil half-century of economic difficulties.

2009-04-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

KommentariiDaesh new projections! 27.03.2009Obnovlenny budget for 2009 has not yet been adopted, but ustarevaetVneshneekonomicheskie conditions for Russia may be unfavorable in the next ten, twenty, and perhaps fifty years. The statement was made by Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, RIA News.
According to Kudrin, the best outlook for Russia was in 2000-2004. Now the world economy is going through a difficult period, as declines in the United States lasts for several months. The Minister noted that in the 90's recession in the American economy was observed within 8 months, and recovery from it - within 92 months. Now the economic crisis in the United States over the last 16-18 months, so expect that to overcome its effects will take several years.
Therefore, stressed the official, Russia should be ready to conclude that the country's crisis would not be so rapid as in 1999-2000, when low prices for resources was accompanied by favorable conditions. Particularly difficult will be the country because of the collapse of world trade. In the WTO, international trade projected to decrease by 9 percent in 2009.
Remember, in early March, Alexei Kudrin, has already made a similar statement about the future of foreign economic conditions. In particular, he said that Russia should not expect good momentum in oil prices over the next 5-10 or even 50 years.
Because of the global economic crisis in Russia in 2009, probably awaiting the first in the XXI century recession. According to various forecasts, the decline in GDP may reach 2.2 to 5.5 per cent. In 2008, the Russian economy grew by 5.6 per cent.
The global economic crisis began in the United States after the collapse of the housing and mortgage markets in 2007. Due to turmoil in financial markets several leading financial institutions in Europe and the United States went bankrupt or were nationalized. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2008, a decline in the U.S. economy was a record since the 1950's.
Among the emerging markets hardest hit Eastern European region, where several countries, including Latvia and Ukraine, were on the brink of default. The economic recession in these countries on the basis of 2009 may forecast of specialists, expressed to two significant figures.

Retail sales in the United States declined for the first time in 2009.

2009-04-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

Retail sales in the United States fell in March 2009 to 1.1 per cent compared to the previous month, reported Bloomberg. The results were much worse than forecasts of economists, who expected an increase of 0.3 percent. This was the first decline since the beginning of the year. In February, sales rose by 0.3 percent in January - at 1 percent.
The decline of sales in the U.S. is due to the growth of unemployment, which limits the ability of consumers. According to previously published reports the U.S. Department of Labor, unemployment in March reached 8.5 percent, the highest level since 1983.
At the same time, it became known that the prices of American manufacturers fell by 1.2 per cent. Continue after a break in January or February of price declines shows that the threat of deflation for the U.S. economy remains substantial.
The negative macroeconomic statistics came out almost at the same time with the statement made by the head Fed Ben Bernanke, who said that the pace of economic recession in the United States has slowed and the first signs of recovery after the deepest recession in decades.
Reduce the rate of retail sales show that household expenditures in the United States will continue to decline. Economists estimate the drop in consumer spending, which constitute 70 percent of U.S. GDP, 0.5 percent in the first quarter. In general, the U.S. economy to shrink by 5 percent. In the last quarter of 2008, the recall is fixed at 6.3 percent drop - the worst result in 50-ies of the last century.

Limit of the average Russian has become a dream salary of 42 thousand rubles.

2009-04-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

Average salary, which the Russians can provide a reference quality of life is 42 thousand rubles. This is stated in a report on a survey conducted by the Center for Strategic Research (CSR) "Rosgosstraha. In the study, CSR was attended by more than 19 thousand people.
According to the residents of Russia, the reference quality of life suggests the possibility of buying a car, house or apartment, access to paid health care and educational services, as well as food and travel for recreation. Last November, the Russians felt that this required the salary of 47 thousand rubles, and in March 2008 - about 30 thousand rubles.
Based on data from the CSI shows that the highest level of "dreams" in Moscow and St. Petersburg - in those cities would meet the salary of 68 thousand and 53 thousand rubles, respectively. Living in Kostroma, Ulyanovsk, Izhevsk and Volgograd have been modest all: how to think, a decent life can provide the salary of 25 thousand rubles.
It is noteworthy that, according to Rosstat, the average monthly wage of the Russians in February of this year amounted to 17580 rubles. In January, it reached 15,200 rubles.

Putin appointed a new head Rosstrahnadzora.

2009-04-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

Member of the State Duma and the president of the All-Russian Insurers Union (WBU), Alexander Koval was appointed head of the Federal Office of Insurance Supervisors (Rosstrahnadzora). In line with the signed prime minister of Russia Vladimir Putin, informs RIA Novosti.
At this position was replaced by Ilya Koval-Lomakina Rumyantseva, directed Rosstrahnadzorom to 22 March 2009. Lomakin-Rumyantsev was appointed head of the expert management of the president.
Koval candidacy for the post of head of Rosstrahnadzora suggested that Vice-Premier and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin at the end of March this year. Koval is included in the State Duma Committee on financial markets, and for the past seven years, is headed by the BCC, which brings together the largest Russian insurance companies.
Rosstrahnadzor exercises control and supervision of insurance and the Ministry of Finance is attached service.

Ukraine will replenish the budget of tobacco and vodka money.

2009-04-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a decision to increase excise taxes on products to increase revenue from tax collection. This Kommersant-Ukraine. " In particular, because of the tax increase a number of products in May and June 2009 went up by 25-40 percent, which budget will be able to obtain additional approximately 6 billion hryvnia (749.5 million dollars). The share of revenues from excise taxes will exceed 12 percent.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the ratio of excise to nominal GDP over the past few years has steadily decreased. In doing so, the growth rate of this type of tax was lower than inflation. The increase of excise tax budget will be able to get 4.5 billion hryvnia only from the tax on cigarettes, liquor and vodka, and diesel fuel. Yet nearly a billion hryvnia will bring to the excise tax on beer.
As expected, increasing the tax will take place in three stages - from 1 May to 1 July and 1 November. The increase in excise rates on cigarettes and alcohol has already been applied twice - from 1 September 2008 and February 1, 2009. Given the last two increases in tax revenues from excise tax in the budget of Ukraine reached 10 billion hryvnia, which is three times higher rate in 2008.
Some revenue will be achieved also by increasing the excise tax on cars. At the end of 2008 the tax on cars with an engine capacity of up to 1.5 liters grew 1,5 times, 1,5-2,2 liters - 4 times, 2,2-3 liters - 2 times, and more than 3 liters - 10 times. From 1 November, 2009 to 50 per cent will increase the tax on diesel fuel.
According to the newspaper, excisable goods does not apply to essential goods, and therefore occupies a small portion of the structure of inflation. As expected, increasing the excise tax does not cause a general increase in consumer prices. Thus, in addition to increasing funds to the budget, the government expects to reduce the consumption of tobacco and alcohol use by citizens.
At the end of the first two months of 2009 was the only excise taxes, fees which increased over the same period in 2008. The collection of the remaining taxes, including value added tax and income tax fell.
At the end of March 2009 the secretariat of the Ukrainian president announced on budget. As at 19 March this year, the income of the general fund budget of Ukraine amounted to 24.9 billion hryvnia. Expenditures General Fund reached 33.5 billion hryvnia.

"Naftogaz Ukraine" has increased gas production.

2009-04-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

"Naftogaz Ukraine" in the first quarter of 2009 increased gas production at 4.1 per cent to 5101 billion cubic meters as compared to the same period last year. This is stated in a press release the Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Ukraine. Crude oil with gas condensate in the same period fell by 5.4 per cent to 935.4 thousand tons.
Increased gas production controlled by the "Naftogaz" Ukrgasproduction "was 5.3 percent. The total volume of gas extracted in the first quarter amounted to 4.023 trillion cubic meters. "Chernomornaftogaz for the first three months of 2009, obtained at 1.2 per cent more gas than the same period last year. The volume of production amounted to 294.1 million cubic meters.
Under the financial plan "Naftogaz Ukraine", the flow of funds to the company in 2009 should amount to about 92.5 billion hryvnia (11.5 billion dollars).
Previously, central dispatch of fuel and energy complex (CDU TEK) reported that in the first quarter of 2009 the volume of gas production in Russia declined by 15 percent over the same period last year. The figure for the first three months amounted to 153 billion cubic meters.
The Russian gas company Gazprom on the volumes of gas production in the first quarter has not yet been revealed. The share of the group accounts for 84 per cent of the volume of Russian gas production. As of mid-March this year, gas production by Gazprom fell by 25.3 percent over the same period a year earlier.

Kudrin demanded to reduce budget expenditures-2010.

2009-04-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

Expenditure Budget for 2010 should be reduced to the previously planned 10.3 trillion rubles to nine trillion rubles. The statement was made Vice-Premier and Minister of Finance of Russia Alexey Kudrin. His words RIA News. Due to what the budget will be reduced costs, Kudrin did not specify.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the country's income will decrease by approximately 30 per cent - by the same amount as in 2009. Budget 2010 once again, as in the current year, will be scarce.
Recall that it is now in the State Duma the draft budget for 2009, which requires a budget deficit of up to eight per cent of GDP. According to a new version of the main financial document of the country, Russia will cost 9.7 trillion rubles, and revenue - 6.7 trillion rubles. The budget deficit will be met from the Contingency Fund.
If the budget for 2010 will be adopted with the expenditure of nine trillion rubles, this would mean that the government will be forced to make a significant reduction in federal programs as compared to the year 2009. According to government forecasts, inflation in the country this year will amount to more than 13 per cent - it is so devalued rubles in 2010 compared to 2009 rubles on.
Budget revenues in 2009 Russia began to decline due to falling oil prices on world markets, as well as the economic slowdown in Russia, which has led to a reduction in tax revenue.
Russia in recent years, has no budget for one year, and once by three. But in a crisis officials decided to abandon this practice.

Yushchenko and Tymoshenko have accused each other of sabotage.

2009-04-15T06:20:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyAntikrizisnye loans MVF14.04.2009Bosniya has asked the IMF for kreditePrezident of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko on April 14, assigned responsibility for the failure of the vote on anti-crisis bills in parliament to Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and her bloc.
"For the vote with the coalition in Parliament, the Prime Minister and led by the majority" - the word brings Korrespondent.Net Yushchenko.
At the same time, is the Prime Minister believes that the breakdown of voting on bills proposed by the Government to blame the President.
"Unfortunately, the vote in Parliament, it was deliberately, cynically overwhelmed because it is the part negolosovaniya NUNS faction, which is directly controlled by the president," - quotes Yuliya Timoshenko "Ukrainian Truth".
But Yushchenko has rejected these accusations, zaviv that has always advocated for the approval of these laws.
This is, remember the package of bills to the Verkhovna Rada on April 14, refused to even put on the agenda. The adoption of these laws, the IMF impose conditions for continued cooperation with Ukraine and the provision of a new tranche of credit of 16 billion dollars.
For setting the agenda of the package vote and the Bloc the BYT faction Litvina. Against the Communists and supported the Party of Regions. NUNS faction split: supporting Tymoshenko deputies voted for, and supporting Yushchenko - "against".
As a result, votes for a decision is not enough.
Since then, Tymoshenko promised that the government will adopt regulations that would replace the never approved by the Rada of the law.
"I, as Prime Minister, will not allow a program of cooperation with the IMF has been destroyed" - stressed Tymoshenko.
In the case of a loan from the IMF is not received, the Ukrainian economy may be in an extremely difficult situation, because the budget deficit: the public pension fund and the company "Naftogaz" growing up, and money for their coverage of the Government no.
In addition, the country's banking system is in need of support and refinancing, but at this from a Cabinet-free is not enough.

Putin promised RZhD further assistance.

2009-04-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

KommentariiPorabotali in ubytok31.03.2009Vse number of Russian companies no longer make pribylRossii need to find a way to fund an additional investment program "Russian Railways" approximately one hundred billion rubles. The statement was made by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at a meeting on the program of development of transport infrastructure, transmits PRIME-TASS. These funds will go mainly to upgrade the rolling stock.
Putin acknowledged that the requirements of CFR is much more than the means by which state-owned company has. In doing so, the Prime Minister stressed that the Government has already decided to support CFR 50 billion rubles, which will be forwarded to the authorized capital of the company, transmits "Interfax".
Previously, it was reported that, according to projections of the company's net loss in 2009, CFR will be 49.7 billion rubles. In the first quarter of the state monopoly losses exceeded 26 billion rubles.
Losses RZhD associated with a sharp fall in passenger traffic due to economic recession in the country. Demand for products and, consequently, to its delivery to consumers have started to decline in autumn 2008.
In general, for the first quarter of 2009, passenger traffic declined by 14 percent over the same period a year earlier. The loading on wagons RZhD decreased by 27 percent.

Transneft will loan oil to China.

2009-04-14T17:02:00.000-07:00

Russian oil company Transneft has agreed to provide oil to obtain a loan from China at 10 billion dollars. This writes the newspaper Kommersant. Under the terms of the contract, Transneft would buy Rosneft about six million tons of oil a year and resell the fuel in China.
Agreement on cooperation in the oil supply to China, the Russian company signed on 10 April 2009. It is part of a package of agreements governing the supply of oil to China in the framework of the intergovernmental Russian-Chinese agreement on cooperation in the oil industry. Further details of the agreement the parties have not yet been disclosed.
In mid-February 2009, Rosneft and Transneft signed the final documents from the Chinese oil company CNPC and the China Development Bank for a loan of 25 billion dollars. Under the agreement, Russian companies will receive money in exchange for oil supplies to China for 20 years.
The fact that Russian companies have asked China for a loan, it became known in late October 2008, when the parties signed the memorandum. This included the allocation of $ 15 billion, Rosneft and 10 billion dollars - "Transneft". This document was completed in March this year.

Bosnia has asked the IMF to loan crisis.

2009-04-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyAntikrizisnye credits MVF02.04.2009Meksika MVFDelegatsiya requested assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) began talks with the authorities in Bosnia for the Balkan country's credit crisis. Reported AFP. According to preliminary data, Bosnia needed a loan in the amount of at least one billion euros (1.3 billion dollars).
Borrowings need a Balkan country in order to reduce the growing budget deficit, as well as implement a series of measures to stimulate economic growth. As expected, the economy of Bosnia in 2009, will enter into recession.
Earlier, the IMF has repeatedly said that he is ready to provide financial support to Bosnia, but the country still in crisis through the fund did not. The country's economy has still not fully recovered after the 1992-1995 war. Earlier, the IMF singled out Bosnia, two general size of the loan of 180 million euros, which the country had paid in 2004.
Recall that the IMF is supporting the countries most affected by the global crisis in the autumn of 2008. Loan fund has benefited from several countries, including Iceland, Pakistan, Ukraine and Latvia.

Rada failed laws on cooperation with the IMF.

2009-04-14T14:54:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyAntikrizisnye loans MVF02.04.2009Meksika asked for help from MVFVerhovnaya Rada is not included in the agenda for discussion of the bills, whose condition makes the IMF continue its cooperation with Ukraine.
As reported by UNIAN, the deputies did not consider the draft laws on making amendments to the budget, on energy security, pensions and compulsory pension insurance.
For the inclusion of these items on the agenda voted BYuT and Lytvyn bloc and the fraction of the NUNS. The Party of Regions, Communists and the rest of the NUNS deputies did not want to discuss these bills.
Rada Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn said after the vote that parliament will return to the consideration of these bills, if found necessary number of votes.
A deputy from the Party of Regions Mykola Azarov, commenting on the reluctance of his faction to deal with those bills, said that the proposed measures are aimed at the collapse of the simplified taxation and restricting the right of people to receive pensions, transfers "Ukrainian Truth".
Moreover, in his view, the Government has not "realistic" changes to the budget, but that saw the deputies, is to "legitimize those ugliness, of the mismanagement that occurred in the system of" Naftogaz ".
Recall that the IMF as a condition of continuing the lending of Ukraine made a number of stringent requirements, such as a sharp decline in social and other expenses of the budget, raising domestic energy prices, higher taxes and excises.
In addition, the IMF demanded that the Ukrainian leadership to arrive at a consolidated position against the crisis.
Ukraine is currently experiencing the most severe in Eastern Europe, the economic crisis.
In autumn 2008, Ukraine agreed to receive a credit adjustment to 16.5 billion dollars from the International Monetary Fund. The first tranche of a loan of 4,5 billion dollars has already been listed.

State debt of Russia in 2008 reached 6.7 percent of GDP.

2009-04-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

The total amount of public debt of Russia in 2008 increased by 289.1 billion rubles to 2692 trillion rubles, or 6.7 percent of GDP. That was reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the Ministry of Finance of Russia. The share of domestic debt in total debt rose from 54.2 to 55.7 per cent, while external debt fell from 45.8 to 44.3 percent.
By the end of 2008, domestic debt denominated securities, an increase of 172.59 billion rubles up to 1421 trillion rubles. The total volume of domestic debt increased over the year from 1301 to 1.5 trillion rubles.
During the past year, the public external debt declined by 4038 one billion dollars to 40.573 trillion dollars (1192 trillion rubles). According to the Ministry of Finance, the reduction of external debt could be larger if not for the reduction rate against major world currencies.
Remember, in early February 2009 the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia has announced that the total external and domestic debt in the country last year grew by 9 percent to 2.62 trillion rubles. This figure represents 6.3 percent of GDP. At the same time in ruble terms, the external debt rose by 4.1 per cent to 1147 trillion rubles.

Belarus has banned the import of fish.

2009-04-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

Office of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has banned the importation of finished fish and seafood. Reported "Telegraph." Now imported to the republic would be raw materials, and its processing will local businesses.
According to Assistant to the President of Belarus Sergei Tkachev, the innovation will affect all the importers trying to supply to Belarus in the first finished products because of higher prices, rather than on raw materials. "And if some of them believed that it could continue to act to continue, (...) these instantly sobered economic sanctions", - added Tkachov.
Managing Director of President Nicholas Domashkevich noted that the main role in the fish would have to "Belryba. In addition, during the first half will be open 20 new stores Upravdelami president of fishery, and fish halls on the markets of regional centers and large cities.
Recall that in January 2008, Lukashenko said that Belarus should increase its own production and consumption of fish products. In particular, the President noted that the country needs to increase production of the lake and pond fish, as well as the importation of fish products.

Storchak had participated in the panel of Ministry of Finance for the first time since liberation.

2009-04-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyDelo Deputy Minister finansov26.01.2009Sledstvie Disposition Storchak vozobnoviliZamestitel Russia Finance Minister Sergei Storchak April 14, 2009 took part in an expanded board of the Ministry of Finance. That was reported by RIA Novosti. Board meeting in 2008 Storchak missed.
Recall that the Deputy Minister of Finance was arrested on 15 November 2007, and nearly a year in detention. He is suspected of preparing the theft of more than 43 million dollars from the Russian budget. Throughout the investigation Storchak has remained in the state of the Ministry of Finance. The Minister of Finance of Russia Alexey Kudrin and Storchak has repeatedly stated that it considers unfair and unreasonable.
October 21, 2008 Storchak was released to house arrest under a subscription, but the next day he issued a long vacation, which is now.
At the end of February 2009 Storchak wrote an article "world after the crisis: System vs. Architecture", which was published in the newspaper Vedomosti. This was the first publication of the Deputy Minister after his release. Article Storchak criticized attempts to "Big twenty" (G20) to reform the global financial system.
According to Storchak, the world's financial institutions are not ready for a deep restructuring. In doing so, "nobody knows in which direction its lead." He noted that the G20 only going to change the rules for the functioning of the global financial system, no additional changes in its structure.

MOF will replace the tax on mineral extraction.

2009-04-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

The Ministry of Finance of Russia started to prepare several changes in tax legislation, which will form the basis of tax policy for 2010-2012 years. This writes the newspaper Kommersant. In particular, we are talking about replacing the tax on mineral extraction (NDPI) as a new tax on additional income, as well as zayavitelnom the reimbursement of value added tax (VAT) under the bank guarantee.
In the case of the MOF NDPI proposed levy is not oil, mining companies, as is happening now, and accumulated during the development of profit. This gain is the difference between income and expenditure for the entire term of reference works on the site. However, as expected, the rate of tax will increase as growth in mining and to decrease with a reduction of production. The new tax is proposed to enter only for fields of work which was started relatively recently. According to preliminary estimates, it will be operational in 2011.
Among the other tax measures the Ministry of Finance also intends to put in place are not operating now Article Code of deferred tax, installment, and investment tax credit. In addition, the department is preparing an amendment that would allow companies to include in the list of expenses the cost of construction of binding sites, where local authorities insist. In particular, we are talking about schools and kindergartens.
It writes the newspaper "Vedomosti", a bill to zayavitelnom reimbursement of VAT under the bank guarantee may be passed by the Parliament during the spring session and will take effect from July this year. The document states that the tax service should be within 30 days to consider an application from the company if the bank guarantee for the full amount of VAT will be valid. The previous procedure will also be retained: the tax will be reimbursed only after the desktop check companies. In this case, the whole process takes about three months.
In early April, the Federal Tax Service (NRF), Russia announced that tax revenues to the federal budget in the first two months of 2009 decreased by 13.5 percent over the same period a year earlier. This was due to the reduction in revenue from income tax and NDPI.

The cost of oil dropped below $ 50 a barrel.

2009-04-14T06:16:00.000-07:00

Cost of oil during the auction at the New York Mercantile Exchange NYMEX fell below 50 dollars a barrel. The value of WTI crude oil brands with delivery in May 2009 by 17:55 Moscow time has fallen by 2.99 dollars to 49.25 dollars per barrel. The last time oil prices dropped below $ 50 a barrel April 7, 2009.
Oil brand Brent with delivery in May, dropped in price to 2.78 dollars to 51.28 dollars per barrel. The reason for reducing the cost of oil was made by the International Energy Agency (IEA), which was revised forecast of world demand for hydrocarbons in 2009. Under the new assessment, oil demand this year will be 83.4 million barrels per day. This is a million barrels less than the previous projection.
Reducing the cost of oil has become one of the reasons for the fall of major U.S. indexes. By 18:00 Moscow time Dow Jones index fell by 1.34 percent, S & P 500 - by 1.18 per cent, while the Nasdaq - 0,95 per cent. Recall the last time stamp WTI oil price has exceeded $ 50 in April 9th, 2009.

In Ingushetia, revealed financial irregularities at 1.7 billion rubles.

2009-04-13T18:54:00.000-07:00

Chamber of Russian Federation in Ingushetia revealed financial irregularities totaling more than 1.7 billion rubles in the audit of expenditure of the federal budget allocated to the republic in 2008. This is stated in a press release by the Chamber. The Office will report on breaches of the president of Russia, Minregion, the Federal Treasury, Rosimuschestvo, as well as the Prosecutor General's Office.
In particular, specialists of the Accounting Chamber found that no bidding was 31 on Public Procurement contract worth about 327 million rubles. Moreover, has not yet completed construction of 24 facilities, work on which was started back in 2000-2003. In Office, noted that the budgetary funds amounting to 1.3 billion rubles for the construction of these objects are actually lost. "
According to the Accounting Chamber, the Ministry of Economy and Industry in Russia's Ingushetia Minregion provided false information on the implementation of federal target program (FTP) "South of Russia" in the past year. The sum utilization of budgetary funds were overstated by 68.5 million rubles.
In January of this year, it became known that the Government of Russia intends to devote to the development of Ingushetia until 2015, 29 billion rubles, which amounts to three-year budget. It was anticipated that some funds will be directed through the Federal Program "South Russia", acting until 2012.

Rada postponed the adoption of anti-crisis plan.

2009-04-13T17:52:00.000-07:00

Yulia Tymoshenko asked the deputies of Verkhovna Rada to postpone scheduled for April 14 review of anti-crisis program, introduced by the Government of Ukraine, said Korrespondent.net.
The head of BYuT faction in parliament, Ivan Kirilenko with explained that, firstly, not all the special committees had found the contents of the document, and secondly, the Party of Regions presented the Cabinet a number of "extremely serious" proposals to be incorporated in the final edition programs to combat the crisis.
"We would like that document has been rallying," - said Kirilenko.
"Regional", before calling for the immediate consideration of the plan, this time taken with the understanding of a request from opponents BYUT.
"Self-critical coalition acknowledged that its program of old and can not accept it. The Party of Regions is ready to assist the Government to develop anti-crisis program", - said the Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych.
But he said the time that the opposition would give the coalition to take into account the requirements and development of anti-crisis program, it will be very short, "said Ukrainian Pravda.
"We do not anticipate in advance, but this is not about war, but the desire to develop high-quality anti-crisis program. We do not set the aim of destabilizing the situation", - quotes the edition of the Leader of the Opposition.
Consent of the two largest factions of Parliament (BYuT and Party of Regions) on the date of the transfer consideration of the document will enable the Government to finalize it and submit to Parliament in updated form.
Previously, we remind the parliamentarians agreed that the Government's anti-crisis program will be reviewed by Rada on 14 April. The new date of the discussion paper has not yet been determined.

Deposits of the Black Sea and Sea of Okhotsk provide tax holidays.

2009-04-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

Russian Ministry of Finance plans to introduce tax holidays for oil and gas fields in the Okhotsk and the Black Seas. About Interfax reports with reference to the statement by the Deputy Minister of Finance Sergey Shatalov.
Shatalov recalled that in 2008 had already been approved by the imposition of tax holidays in the development of deposits on the shelf, the Yamal and in the Timan-Pechersky basin. The proposal for this was done in mid-May, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and later approved by the State Duma, the Federation Council and the President.
In addition, as a further measure to reduce the tax burden on oil and gas industry, the Government since late 2008, began to reduce export duties on oil. In particular, from 1 February this year, the fee rate was reduced to 100.9 dollars per ton. In March, due to rising oil prices on world markets, the fee rose to 115.3 dollars, and from 1 April - again down to 110 dollars per tonne.
In August last year, Minister of Finance of Russia Alexey Kudrin said that Russia's budget revenues from oil and gas sector will decrease to almost triple in 2023 - from 8.8 percent of GDP in 2007 to 3.1 percent of GDP in 2023. This happens because of the massive withdrawal of deposits from the old operation and increasing the exemption limit in calculating the tax rate on the extraction of minerals (NDPI) of oil, which from 2009 will increase from 9 to 15 dollars per barrel of oil.

The prices of Russian producers have increased.

2009-04-13T15:42:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyRossiyskaya inflation in 2009 godu18.03.2009S beginning of the year, prices in Russia grew by 4.7 protsentaTseny Russian producers of manufactured goods increased in March 2009 to 4.1 per cent compared with February, according to a press Rosstat release. During the quarter, price growth was 5.1 percent.
The most significant rise in prices has been in mining (22.9 percent), which may be associated with of rising oil and other commodities on world markets. In Russia, crude oil for the month has become more expensive to 46.2 percent. In addition, significantly higher rates of production and distribution of electricity, gas and water (9.1 percent).
At the same time, manufacturing prices fell by 0.1 percent after growing at 2.8 percent in February. Most significantly reduce the prices of coke and petroleum products (-5.4 percent).
It should be noted that because of the economic crisis, producer prices in Russia in September, falling steadily. The maximum level of the fall was set in November - 8.4 percent. As a result, on the basis of 2008 for the first time in post-Soviet history, producer prices have fallen - by 7 percent.
The drop in producer prices has not had any noticeable impact on inflation in Russia. During the first two months of 2009 consumer prices rose by 4.1 per cent, while the March increase was still 1.2 per cent. Russian officials are predicting the general level of inflation in 2009 at the level of 13-15 per cent.

Ministry of Finance proposed to expedite the refund of VAT.

2009-04-13T12:50:00.000-07:00

The Ministry of Finance of Russia has proposed to simplify and expedite the procedure for value added tax (VAT). This statement was made Deputy Minister of Finance Sergey Shatalov, Interfax reports.
According to Shatalov, the taxpayer, providing a bank guarantee, will be able to get the VAT prior to the examination of the documents filed with the tax authorities. If the inspection shows that the taxpayer was not entitled to full reimbursement of VAT, the amount will be paid through a bank guarantee.
Shatalov added that this mechanism is quite viable, and it can run fast enough. At the moment the decision on reimbursement or non-VAT tax is made after verification of the taxpayer desktop documents.
In late 2007 the head of the Federal Customs Service (FCS) Andrei Belyaninov called VAT the "most corrupt" tax. In particular, this is due to cumbersome procedure of VAT taxpayers. Last, in order to avoid this, try to evade payment of VAT with the help of companies odnodnevok.
In early April, the Federal Tax Service (NRF), Russia announced that in January and February of this year compared to the same period last year, revenue in the budget from VAT increased by 80 percent. The total volume of tax payments to the budget declined by 13.5 percent due to reduced income tax and tax on mineral extraction.

Russia demanded that "Naftogaz Ukraine" penalty for shortage of gas.

2009-04-13T11:02:00.000-07:00

Press konferentsiiInteresy Gazprom into Ukraine06.04.2009Na questions readers Lenty.Ru "said columnist" Time of news "Alexei GrivachRossiysky Gazprom has made a" Naftogaz Ukrainy "penalties for the shortfall of gas in March 2009. This writes the newspaper Kommersant-Ukraine ", referring to an anonymous source. According to the publication, the fine could reach up to 530 million dollars.
In the first quarter of 2009, Ukraine buys from Gazprom half than in the contract. In March, the selection was less than a billion cubic meters, with the planned two billion. The contract between Naftogaz Ukrainy and Gazprom says that while reducing the selection of "Naftogaz" to pay 150 percent of the cost of gas, which he declined in October-March, and 300 per cent - the rest of the time.
In early March, Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin declared that "Gazprom has yet to be fined for Ukraine shortage of gas, so as not to finish partners."
Recall that Ukraine reduced gas imports from Russia because of the sharp drop in GDP and industrial production in the face of crisis. For the same reasons, has hit Gazprom, which was forced to reduce exports, not only for Ukraine but also in other European countries.
In general, for the first quarter of 2009 gas production in Russia declined by 15 percent over the same period a year earlier. For comparison, oil production fell by only 1.1 per cent.
Gazprom supplies to Ukraine is not Russia's gas, and fuel purchased in Turkmenistan. Because of the accident at the pipeline in the country last week's gas exports to Russia have virtually stopped. This immediately affected the production of Gazprom - they increased by 40 million cubic meters per day.
Turkmenistan previously stated that the accident occurred on the pipeline due to the fact that Gazprom has sharply reduced the volume of imports, warning of all partners in one day. The Russian company believes that it is not at fault in a gas explosion.

"Naftogaz" has asked from Gazprom as payment for oil transit.

2009-04-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

Press konferentsiiInteresy Gazprom into Ukraine06.04.2009Na questions readers Lenty.Ru "said columnist" Time of news "Alexei GrivachPredsedatel government goskompanii" Naftogaz Ukraine "Oleg Dubina invited Gazprom to the Ukrainian side of 20 billion cubic meters of gas as payment for transit of Russian fuel to the territory of Ukraine. Reported Ukrainian weekly Zerkalo Week. "
According to the value of Ukraine's gas is requested 4.8 billion dollars. This fuel can be Uploaded into underground storage of gas before the next heating season.
On the reaction of the Russian side at the initiative of "Naftogaz" is not known. But two years ago, when the Ukrainian government has offered talks to revert to barter and to 30 billion cubic meters of gas in return for their transit through the territory of Ukraine, Russia's concern with this proposal is not accepted.
Remember, in early April, Gazprom and Naftogaz of Ukraine signed a technical agreement on the transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory. It set out areas of the transit of fuel, the properties of the supplied gas as well as the pressure at the inlet and outlet of the Ukrainian GTS. The term of the agreement is one year but may be extended until 2019, ie before the expiry of the contract for the supply of Russian gas, Ukraine, signed in January this year.
The rate of transit of gas from Russia via Ukraine in 2009 will be soft dollar 1.7 per thousand cubic meters per 100 kilometers (as during 2008). Since 2010, the parties will shift to market relations, and the transit rate will be increased. While its new value is not precisely defined, but it could be 2,04-3 dollar.

Gold and foreign exchange reserves of China have antirekord growth.

2009-04-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

International reserves (ZVR) of China rose in the first quarter of 2009 to 7.7 billion dollars, which is the worst figure for the past eight years. Reported Bloomberg referring to the data Central Bank of China. Slowing growth in reserves, which by April 1, reaching 1.9537 trillion dollars, was due to the sharp decline in export earnings in the country.
In the first quarter of 2009, China's trade balance surplus fell by 45 per cent. In addition, more than a quarter of reduced foreign direct investment. As a result, in January and February, there was a decline in ZVR at 34 billion dollars. In March, the reserves began to grow again.
The modest growth performance ZVR can drastically reduce the purchase by China of American government obligations. Meanwhile, the U.S. government needed funds to cover the record budget deficit, which is less than half a year came close to a trillion dollars. According to experts, because of the insufficient number of tools at the disposal of China's sales of new gosobligatsy United States may encounter difficulties. Now China is the biggest U.S. creditor, holding U.S. commitments amounting to nearly 740 billion dollars.
With such large sums, the Chinese Government is trying to acquire control of foreign assets, especially in the commodity area. In particular, the Chinese goskompanii invest in 2009 approximately 21 billion dollars in the Australian mining industry. China also offered Russian oil companies Rosneft and Transneft a loan totaling 25 billion dollars in exchange for assurances of supply of oil within the next 20 years.
By volume ZVR China is in first place in the world. The second line in this list took Japan, whose reserves amount to about half of the Chinese. Third place in Russia - 388 billion dollars. It should be noted that Russian ZVR reduced as a result of the global economic crisis as much as 40 percent.

Private utilities will leave Russia without of state.

2009-04-11T16:50:00.000-07:00

In the expert opinion prepared by a government meeting on investprogramm Russian energy, it is only about goskompaniyah. The fact that private utilities may be left without the help of the state, writes the newspaper Kommersant.
According to the publication of a paper to be discussed by the Government, including the provision of correction investprogramm, as well as funding goskompaniyam. In particular, we are talking about reducing the total investprogramm - for a variety of data, it can range from 14 to 41 percent. In doing so, of the 550 billion rubles, which will this year spend goskompanii, 134 billion rubles will be provided from the federal budget. In addition, the State may issue additional funding OGK-1, passed in the management of Inter RAO, as well as Boguchansky energy Metallurgic Association (BEMO), which implements "Rusal" and "RusGidro. Inter RAO will receive in 2009-2011 of the 21.3 billion rubles in shareholders' equity to finance Urengoy TPP, but "RusGidro" with the help of the state in 2009, will be able to cope with a deficit of 10.5 billion rubles.
Will vary investprogrammy private power companies, now it is not clear at all, adds the newspaper Vedomosti. As long as they plan for the commissioning of new capacity in the current year remained unchanged at 1.7 gigawatts.
Yesterday, it was reported that budget financing of the construction of new power plants in Russia could be reduced by 30 percent. In addition, in February, Deputy Minister of Energy of Russia Vyacheslav Sinyugin said that because of the crisis, the Government may reduce to two or three times in the plans for commissioning new energomoschnostey. Crisis reduced demand for electricity, as well as the warm winter led to a drop in consumption and electricity production. Thus, in January or February of energy production in Russia fell by 5.9 percent over the same period of 2008 - up to 181 billion kilowatt-hours and power consumption decreased by 6.3 per cent to 178 billion kilowatt-hours.

Ministry of Finance proposed the creation of goskorporatsiyu cards.

2009-04-11T15:48:00.000-07:00

The Ministry of Finance of Russia has offered to create a new goskorporatsiyu, which will deal with the National System of payment cards (NSPK) Russian payment card. " This writes the newspaper Vedomosti, citing a copy of the bill on the national payment system, prepared by officials.
In the Ministry of Finance received the newspaper refused to comment on the document, explaining that the bill will be fully developed until December 2009. At the same time Sberbank has already criticized the proposals of officials: in Russia's largest financial organizations believe that the billing system must meet the banks, not the state.
The need to develop their own system of payment cards has arisen from the fact that the financial sector in Russia in recent years is highly developed, but the banks are forced to use the maps of European and American operators - most of all, Visa and MasterCard.
The fact that the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Russia are developing a system of payment cards, mass media started to write during the summer of 2008. Will the financial crisis on a large-scale project, yet unknown.
According to official data, the Central Bank at the beginning of 2009, Russia produced 119 million banking cards, where the operation took 12 months to 8.8 trillion rubles.
The Government of Russia in recent years to create goskorporatsii. In particular, it has established the Agency for Deposit Insurance, "Rostehnologii, Rosnanoteh, Olimpstroy", "Rosatom" and others. In 2009 the council to codify and improve the civil law, President Dmitry Medvedev proposed to abolish all goskorporatsii because they have unclear legal status.

The rate of export duty on oil will increase immediately by 27 dollars.

2009-04-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

C 1 May, 2009 rate of export duty on oil will increase to 137-138 dollars per ton from the current 110 dollars per tonne. The statement was made by the deputy head of department of customs payments Finance Alexander Sakovich, RIA News.
Recall that from 1 April 2009 the rate of export duty on crude oil was reduced from 115.3 to 110 dollars per ton, and March 1 - increased from 100.9 to 115.3 dollars per ton. This was the first time in the last four months, raising the oil tax rate which is calculated based on an average oil price brand Urals.
The rate of duty on April 1, will be calculated based on the average price of monitoring the Russian oil from 15 March to 14 April at 47,8-47,9 dollars per barrel.
Export duties on crude oil declined last six months due to falling prices for hydrocarbons in the global market. The maximum rate of tax was recorded in August 2008 - 495 dollars per tonne. By the end of December, when the price of oil fell to a five-year minimum - 33 dollar per barrel mark WTI, the fee dropped to 119.1 dollars per ton. Now oil is traded in world markets at a price above 50 dollars per barrel.
In autumn 2008, oil prices began to fall. The Russian oil industry has repeatedly requested the Government to accelerate the decline in rates of duty on oil exports, as well as in a drastic fall in the price of oil rate of "do not have time" to fall, following the market. Because of this, to remove oil from Russia, for many companies is simply inefficient. In the first half of 2008, the fee increase does not keep pace with rising prices in the market, so the oil industry received an additional profit.

The explosion in the Turkmen gas pipeline would not affect the supply of "Gazprom" to Europe.

2009-04-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

The explosion at a pipeline "Central Asia-Center (CAC) in Turkmenistan will not lead to a disruption in the supply of fuel to consumers of Russian" Gazprom ", including Europe. That was reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the message, the gas monopoly. Now the Turkmen side is considering the possibility of fuel has not previously been involved through the branches of CAC.
Earlier it was reported that on the evening of April 8, at the 487 kilometer pipeline CAC-4 (GMP "Ilyaly" - "Daryalyk"), an explosion occurred, the cause of which is not yet known. As specified in "Gazprom", "Turkmengaz" said Russian holding that the accident occurred on 9 April at 01:32.
After the explosion of gas from Turkmenistan to Russia ceased. It is estimated that repairing the pipe section will require at least three days.
With CAC, is also laid on the territory of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Russia to transit gas from Turkmenistan. The Russian side is one of the largest buyers of Turkmen fuel. In 2009 in Turkmenistan for export is planned to send more than 51 billion cubic meters of gas from the production to be 75 billion cubic meters.

Russia has boosted the size of export guarantees to three times.

2009-04-11T12:36:00.000-07:00

The maximum size of government export guarantees tripled - from 50 million to $ 150 million. A decree signed on 9 April, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia, reports "Interfax".
According to Putin, by raising the amount of state guarantees for exports will be accessible to a wider range of Russian companies, RIA News.
Export gosgarantii provided by the Russian Ministry of Finance. They can receive Russian exporters and the bank issuing the credit to domestic and foreign exporters, non-resident banks and foreign States in the export of manufactured goods from the Russian authorities of a certain range. For example, in 2004, a list of products for export which could be obtained gosgarantii included, among other things, drugs, goods Chimprom and textile industries, metal and certain types of machinery and equipment.
Domestic exporters are in a crisis in need of public assistance. At the end of March, data from the Ministry became aware that the surplus trade balance of Russia for the first two months of this year dropped by half in comparison with January-February 2008 and amounted to 15.2 billion dollars. The export of goods has decreased in 1,8 times and amounted to 39 billion dollars, while imports fell by 35.3 percent to 23.8 billion dollars.

The Russian government will force companies to reduce bonuses of state.

2009-04-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

The Government of Russia has developed a number of requirements for system-enterprises, which will be of state in the anti-crisis program. In particular, there is a decrease in bonuses to management. This stated the Minister of Economic Development of Russia Elvira Nabiullina, reports RIA Novosti. "This and the availability of rehabilitation programs, restructuring, cost reduction, but also a requirement to reduce bonuses for management," - she added.
April 3, 2009 Minister of Finance of Russia Alexey Kudrin said that the bonuses to top managers of Russian goskompany, state bank and goskorporatsy will be frozen for at least two years. In particular, it was a benefit to the outcome of 2008 first and 2009. In doing so, Kudrin noted that the freeze will affect all businesses receiving government subordinated loans, and can be extended to the entire period of the financial and economic crisis.
Later the Central Bank of Russia Chairman Sergei Ignatiev announced that the Central Bank will not grant the State Bank of recommendations for policy and bonus payments of premium top-managers.
7 Apr, 2009 it became known that the Bank of Moscow, whose major shareholders are the property of the Department of Moscow and the Capital Insurance Group, is ten times reduced the bonuses of top managers. At the end of 2008, total bonuses at the bank amounted to 50 million rubles. In doing so, the bank president Andrei Borodin did not receive a bonus for the last year.

The explosion of the gas in Turkmenistan increased gas production in Russia.

2009-04-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyGazovy conflict "Gazprom" and Turkmenii10.04.2009Iz to the explosion of gas in Turkmenistan increased gas production in Russia, "Gazprom" on 9 April this year increased its gas production to 40 million cubic meters and has volume of daily production up to 1138.7 million cubic meters. About Interfax reports with reference to the Central Dispatching Management of fuel and energy complex (CDU TEK). April 7-8, the Russian production of the group kept at the level of 1098-1099 million cubic meters.
In the night from 8 to 9 April at the gas pipeline Central Asia-Center (CAC) in Turkmenistan, an explosion occurred, which led to the suspension of gas supplies to Russia. As the season of the selection of fuel from underground storage was completed in March, Gazprom was able to compensate for the lack of Turkmen gas obtained only by increasing its own production.
Remember, after the accident at the 487 kilometer pipeline CAC near the border with Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan issued a statement, which blamed a subsidiary of Gazprom, "Gazprom export", in creating the conditions for an explosion at the CAC. According to the Turkmen side, "Gazprom export" has reduced the volume of gas taken from CAC, which led to an increased load on the gas distribution network.
April 9, evening, RIA Novosti reported that Gazprom export "called the accusations groundless Turkmenistan. Later the same day the message was canceled at the request of "Gazprom export".
Russia buys Turkmen gas and resells it to Europe. Supplying fuel to Ukraine, Russia mixes its own gas from Turkmenistan.

Ukrainian producers allowed to buy Gazprom.

2009-04-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has allowed the producers of nitrogen fertilizer to buy gas from foreign companies, writes the newspaper Kommersant-Ukraine. " Permission may open the Ukrainian market for the Russian company "Gazprom" - the main supplier of gas to Ukraine.
The Government has prepared a list of businesses that are allowed to buy fuel abroad. It includes concern "Styrene", Odesa Port Works, Severodonetsk association Azot, Dniproazot and Rivnoazot. According to authorities, demonopolization market, a major supplier of fuel which is "Naftogaz Ukraine", will allow companies to improve their financial situation because they can get more favorable contracts for the purchase of gas.
The chemical complex of Ukraine annually consumes 7-8 billion cubic meters of natural gas, representing about 10 percent of the total consumption of the country. A total gas demand in Ukraine is 76 billion cubic meters a year. Of this amount about 55 billion cubic meters annually imported.
Naftogaz of Ukraine Cabinet of Ministers decision criticized. According to the company under a contract dated 3 October 2008 "Naftogaz" is defined as the sole importer of gas to Ukraine. Based on company documents and contracts for the supply of fuel. According to Naftogaz, the breach of the contract could lead to a breach of the gas balance in the local market.
Recall that in 2008 in the Ukrainian market is a subsidiary of Russia's Gazprom. It was established in April 2008 to replace the trader "Ð£ÐºÑÐ"Ð°Ð·-Energo, which is the only supplier of gas industry. Now the foreign gas in the domestic market of Ukraine may sell only to "Naftogaz Ukraine" and a subsidiary of the Russian monopoly.

Tymoshenko agreed with Putin on the modernization of the GTS.

2009-04-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

KommentariiRossiya return a udar27.03.2009Moskva the beginning of a campaign to revise the gas deklaratsiiUkraina Brussels and Russia have overcome differences over the issue of modernizing Ukraine's gas transportation system (GTS). This was said Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, on the basis of a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Interfax reports. "We found that we are partners in upgrading the transmission system. We believe that the question withdrawn, and we can continue to work", - said Tymoshenko.
March 23, 2009 in Brussels, held a conference, which resulted in Ukraine and the EU signed a declaration on the modernization of the GTS. According to the document, Ukraine pledged to make the local gas market open and allow independent companies to gas storage. In turn, the EU promised to provide Ukraine a loan of $ 2.5 billion dollars, which she can spend on upgrading the GTS. The Declaration was signed without the participation of the Russian side.
Later, Putin said the revision of relations between Russia and the EU. "If Russia's interests will be ignored, then we will have to begin to revise the principles of our relations", - said the Prime Minister. In doing so, he signed a declaration called "inappropriate and unprofessional."
March 24, 2009 President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia postponed intergovernmental consultations with Ukraine as long as no "will be clarified the issue with the gas Declaration."
Before signing the Declaration of the Ministry of Energy of Russia expressed the desire to participate in the modernization of the Ukrainian GTS. Earlier, Russia offered to privatize the CTA, the Secretariat of President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko at the beginning of this year, valued at 25 billion dollars. Representatives of Ukraine, in response to the proposal stated that they did not intend to transfer the ownership of the TCU or foreign private investors.

Obama saw a "glimmer of hope in the world economy.

2009-04-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

Â Â U.S. President Barack Obama said that he sees "glimmers of hope" in the current state of the world economy. On this April 10, reports Associated Press.
Obama spoke to reporters after meeting with the Minister of Finance Timothy Gaytnerom, the Presidential Adviser on Economy, Larry Summers, the head of the U.S. Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke, and other experts. According to the president, the economy is still strong in the state of stress, but the situation is established. He promised that, ultimately, economic growth and employment will be resolved.
Among the concrete signs of improvement in the situation Obama has called the increase in the number of homeowners, refinansiruyuschih their mortgages, as well as the rise recorded last month in the small business. In doing so, the president acknowledged that the unemployment rate in the United States remains very high. In March 2009, it reached the maximum of silver - 8.5 percent.
Obama held an economic meeting in the White House shortly after returning from London. U.S. President took part in dealing with world financial crisis summit "twenty large" (G20), which took place in the British capital on 2 April. In autumn 2008, "crisis" G20 summit held in Washington, but the London event, estimated to analysts, has become more productive.

Public Employment pledged not to reduce wages.

2009-04-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

KommentariiDokatilis06.04.2009Moskva and St. Petersburg is no longer considered the stability of the region stranyZarplaty Federal Public Employment will decline in 2010 due to the crisis. This statement was made Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development Alexander Safonov, reports RIA Novosti. "Fears that the federal Public Employment that is lost, misdirected. Reason to believe that tomorrow we will go in the opposite direction, no" - added the official.
According Safonova, funding to be allocated from the state budget by 30 per cent increase in funds of labor wages in the current year, is fully maintained and in 2010. It is estimated MHSD, the funds will be about 114 billion rubles.
Safonov also added that the funds pay for all federal agencies have managed to increase by 30 percent. In some cases, the average salary of Public Employment, in particular low-skilled workers, increased by two times.
Meanwhile, in mid-March it was reported that in a number of Russian regions, wages Public Employment will be increased not by 30 percent, as planned, while only 10 per cent. It was expected that, taking into account inflation, which this year will be 13-15 per cent, the real incomes of employees of federal agencies will drop.

France has established spetsfond for training the unemployed.

2009-04-10T17:56:00.000-07:00

KommentariiObratnaya tyaga31.03.2009Borba to the crisis led to protest actions of disaffected rabochihPravitelstvo France established a special fund to finance the retraining of unemployed citizens during the economic crisis. The statement was made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, said AFP. Capitalization of the fund will be 1.5 billion euros.
The new fund will be jointly managed by the largest labor unions and the government appointed managers. His responsibilities will include not only funding for the retraining of specialists, but also provide cash benefits those Frenchmen who, for whatever reason can not receive unemployment benefits in full. The amount of benefits up to 500 euro per person.
During the first two months of 2009 the number of officially registered unemployed in France has reached 2.3 million, an increase of 170 thousand people. Worst hit industrial and automobile sectors. Rising unemployment has led to discontent of French workers who have become increasingly organize protests and seize top managers hostage.
Recall from the beginning of the year in the mercy of the French workers had visited the heads of the companies Sony, 3M, Caterpillar and Scapa.

The Government of Russia will allocate 30 billion rubles to unemployment benefits.

2009-04-10T16:54:00.000-07:00

About 90 percent of funds allocated by the Government of Russia in the fight against unemployment, will benefit, Interfax reports with reference to MHSD. This goal will be spent 29.8 billion rubles, while 4.1 billion will go "to implement an active employment policy."
April 9, Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin declared that the Government will allocate additional 34 billion rubles from the federal budget for the sotsobyazatelstv before the Russians lost their jobs. The money will be sent in addition to the 43 billion that had already been earmarked in the budget.
According to the MHSD, the number of officially registered unemployed in the country at the beginning of April was 2199 million. This is almost exactly coincides with a positive outlook on the government of unemployment in the country by the end of the year. Negative option includes 2.8 million unemployed at the end of 2009 th.
The total number of Russians lost their jobs by the beginning of April was 6.4 million, while the rest of the year, that figure could rise to 7 million. In late March, Vice Premier Alexander Zhukov said that the peak growth of unemployment in Russia passed. However, accurate statistics to substantiate his words did not lead officer.
The sharp rise in unemployment in Russia has been at the end of 2008 because of the economic crisis. Companies have been forced to cut jobs to reduce costs and raise profits.

Exports from China reduced the fifth month in succession.

2009-04-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

Chinese exports in March fell by 17.1 percent relative to the rate of the same month in 2008, reported Bloomberg. The total volume of shipments abroad amounted to 90.29 billion dollars. At the same time imports declined by 25.1 percent, which led to an increase in surplus of trade balance of China at 41 percent to 18.56 billion dollars.
However, compared with February 2009, exports soared to 32.8 percent, while imports rose by 14 percent. It turned out much better predictions of experts, which allowed the customs bureau of the PRC to talk about "positive signs" indicating the stabilization of foreign trade.
The economy of most countries in Asia, export-oriented, has suffered because of the global credit crisis, which reduced the demand for East Asian goods. In some countries, particularly in Japan and Singapore, this has led to a reduction in GDP, whereas in China the rate of growth has slowed. According to the forecasts of international financial institutions, China's GDP growth in 2009 shows the lowest value over the past decade - 5,5-6,5 percent.
The fall in export volumes has forced the Chinese government to take care of the development of domestic demand. To increase consumer activity the government subsidizes the purchase of television sets and refrigerators in rural areas. In total, to stimulate the economy the state plans to spend nearly 4 trillion yuan (585 billion dollars).

The International Energy Agency for the third time, has reduced the forecast for oil demand.

2009-04-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

The International Energy Agency (IEA) for the third time since the beginning of this year has reduced the forecast for oil demand to 83.4 million barrels per day. This is the lowest value of this indicator since 2004, said AFP.
According to the previous forecast made in mid-February IEA, demand for oil until the end of the year was reduced to 84.7 million barrels per day. At the end of last year, the agency expected that the figure in 2009 will grow and reach 86.3 million barrels per day.
In 2008, according to the IEA, demand for oil reached 85.8 million barrels per day.
The calculations are based on IEA projections of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to the latest IMF forecasts, the world economy this year will decrease by 0,5-1 per cent. Because of the crisis also continued falling demand for commodities.
Cost of barrel of oil on world markets is now more than 50 dollars. This is higher than the end of 2008, when oil prices fell to a three-year minimum (about 35 dollars per barrel), but still below the record 147 dollars a barrel reached in the middle of last year.

American economists believed in the imminent completion of a recession.

2009-04-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

A recession in the U.S. economy will be completed in the second half of 2009, which will increase consumer spending and mortgage sector begins to recover from the effects of the crisis. That was reported by Reuters, referring to the results of a survey of American economists Agency Blue Chip Economic Indicators.
86 percent of economists believe the U.S. that a slight increase in macroeconomic indicators in the country will begin in the second half. The rapid growth of the economy, respondents expect only in the second half of 2010. However, despite improvements, the unemployment rate will continue to grow throughout the 2009 th and 2010.
National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) United States believes that the recession in the economy has started in December 2007. Thus, the GDP the U.S. is in recession for over 16 months. In the fourth quarter of 2008, the U.S. economy fell by 6.3 per cent. In general, for the whole year 2008 the country's GDP grew by 1.1 per cent. Data on the economic recession in the first quarter of 2009 has not yet been promulgated.
According to the official forecast of the U.S. government, the country's GDP in 2009 decline by 0,5-1,3 percent. Economists interviewed by Blue Chip, believe that by the end of the year drop in GDP will reach 2.6 percent.
In March 2009, the unemployment rate in the country rose to 8.5 percent by updating the 25-year maximum. Since the beginning of a recession economy lost 5.1 million jobs. The peak of unemployment, on the Blue Chip forecast of economists polled, will be in the second half of 2010, when the rate reaches 9.8 percent. Then he starts to fall.
At the end of February 2009 the head of the U.S. Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke said that the full restoration of the country's economy after the global crisis may take more than two or three years. Moreover, Bernanke noted that the decline in U.S. GDP in the first half of 2009 continues, but by the end of the year will come from the U.S. recession.

Ukrainians are no longer purchased grains.

2009-04-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

Ukrainians stopped storing Grechko and other grains, UNIAN transmits, with reference to the weekly "Comments", interviewed market operators.
The publication notes that because of the panic of expectations related to the economic crisis, people bought up long-term storage products, including cereals.
For example, in February 2009 in the Ukraine have been recorded on the volume of records sold large population - an average of 50 per cent higher than in other months. At the same time in March 2009 as demand for cereals has fallen by about one-third.
Recall that Ukrainian GDP in the first two months of this year fell by 30 percent compared with January-February 2008, while industrial production in January 2009 decreased by more than a third compared to the same month last year.
According to the World Bank, the Ukrainian economy to decline this year to nine per cent, while the Government of Ukraine, by contrast, planned growth - at 0.4 percent.
April 7, the American billionaire and investor George Soros said that the Ukrainian economy is close to default. In his view, "serious problems" are also available from the Baltic countries, which, like Ukraine, are among the most affected nations.

Turkmenistan accused Gazprom into a pipeline explosion.

2009-04-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

Continuing: "Gazprom has rejected accusations of Turkmenistan in the gas pipeline explosion
In the explosion, which occurred April 9 in one section of the gas pipeline Central Asia-Center (CAC) in Turkmenistan, blame Gazprom, said in a statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic, which leads Interfax.
In a statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, inter alia, states that on April 8, the Russian company "Gazexport" (daughter of Gazprom) without prior notification to the Turkmen side has reduced the volume of selected Turkmen natural gas. As a result, at a gas station CAC-4, by which the supply of Turkmen natural gas in Russia, the accident occurred.
Ashgabat called actions of Russia "rash and irresponsible, because first of all it is a real threat to life and health of people and is fraught with unpredictable environmental consequences."
Moreover, Turkmenistan has accused Russia of grave breaches of the contract of sale of gas. According to the agency, this is the first formal statement of the Turkmen side about the accident.
It was reported that the explosion at 487 km to the air passage CAC pipeline near the border with Uzbekistan took place at 01:32 on 9 April. In this regard, the supply of Turkmen gas to Russia ceased.
Gas CAC is located in the territory of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. With the help of Russia carries out its transit gas from Turkmenistan. The carrying capacity of the pipeline is 80 billion cubic meters of gas a year.

Unemployment Russians contributed additional 34 billion rubles.

2009-04-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyRost unemployment Rossii30.03.2009Tempy rising unemployment snizyatsyaPravitelstvo deploy additional 34 billion rubles from the federal budget for the sotsobyazatelstv before the Russians lost their jobs. This statement was made by the Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin, RIA Novosti reported.
Remember, back in early December, Russian Prime during the transfer of "Conversation with Vladimir Putin stated that the authorities will allocate 10-50 billion employment services. These funds will help in part to cope with rising unemployment. In addition, December 29, Vice Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov announced that regional budgets will receive 43.7 billion rubles to maintain the labor market, including the training of employees, creation of temporary jobs and increase unemployment benefits.
According to the MHSD, on 1 April 2009 the number of officially registered unemployed in Russia has reached 2199 million. In doing so, according to an official forecast of the authorities of the country, unemployment in Russia amount to 2.2 million by the end of the year, as in the case of a negative scenario could rise to 2.8 million.
The total number of unemployed Russians at the beginning of April was 6.4 million. It was expected that by the end of the year this figure will increase to 7 million.
At the end of 2008 the State Duma adopted in the third reading a bill providing for an increase in unemployment benefits. From 1 January 2009 the maximum unemployment benefit was raised from 3124 to 4900 rubles.

Your reply to Gazprom's the accusations of Turkmenistan canceled.

2009-04-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

Message of the reaction Ltd. "Gazpromeksport" to the charges the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan in creating the conditions for an explosion at gas pipeline Central Asia-Center (CAC), set aside.
As explained RIA Novosti placed this message with a link to the Vice-President "Gazpromeksporta", with a request to cancel the note requested guidance subsidiary of OAO Gazprom.

U.S. trade deficit declined to a level of 2000.

2009-04-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

United States trade deficit in February 2009 fell by 28.3 per cent to 26 billion dollars, a record value for the last nine years. That was reported by AFP, referring to data the U.S. Department of Commerce. In January, the figure amounted to 36.2 billion dollars, which was a record since 1999.
The reason for reducing the trade deficit was the decline in imports due to falling demand in the U.S. for the products of foreign companies. The volume of U.S. imports in February declined by 5.1 per cent to 152.7 billion dollars.
The volume of exports, by contrast, grew up. The increase in this index in February was 1.6 percent. In total, the country exported goods to 126.8 billion dollars. With the highest growth was recorded in the field of consumer goods, automobiles and food products.
The trade deficit with China for the month fell to 14.2 billion dollars compared with 20.6 billion dollars in January this year. This figure was a record since February 2006. The volume of imports of Chinese goods amounted to 4.7 billion dollars, while exports to China - 18.9 billion dollars.
U.S. trade deficit declines over the past five months. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2008 this figure had fallen to 0.09 percent. The volume of exports declined by 19.7 per cent, while imports - by 15.7 percent.

Vladimir Churov reported earnings for the year.

2009-04-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

The official website of Central Election Commission on April 9 have been published about earnings CEC Chairman Vladimir Churova 2008.
Revenues exceeded the CEC head of 2,8 million rubles. 130 thousand rubles Churovu been teaching in St. Petersburg Humanitarian University of Trade Unions. Another 29 thousand rubles chairman vote received as dividends on the closed in April 2008, bank deposits. The remaining proceeds received Churovym from work in the CEC.
As it turned out, the personal property Churova and his wife is not real estate. The only declared the object property - owned by Vladimir Churovu Volga 2005 release. Residence Head of CEC in the apartment, which takes on the basis of the social contract of employment.
Earlier in the sites of the respective departments have published information on income and property of the President and the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, members of the government and senior officials from the Bush administration.

Gazprom has denied the charges in the Turkmen gas pipeline explosion.

2009-04-10T06:22:00.000-07:00

Continuing: The message on the answer Gazprom's the accusations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan revoked
Russian gas monopoly Gazprom has called the charges baseless, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan in creating the conditions for an explosion at gas pipeline Central Asia-Center (CAC), reported RIA Novosti.
Vice-President, "Daughter" of Gazprom "company" Gazexport Ilya Kochevrin stated that the Russian side as soon as Turkmenistan to reduce the volume of gas in the pipeline, where the incident occurred April 9.
Yesterday Gazpromeksport reported in the cable to reduce the volume and the proposed reduction scheme. We do not understand why they have been used by other schemes, and not proposed by us, "- he said.
Kochevrin stressed that the actions the company could not provide a cause of the explosion.
Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan issued a statement in which the accused "Gazexport that on April 8, the company without prior notification to dramatically reduce the volume of selected Turkmen natural gas pipeline from the CAC. In the view of Ashgabat, increased because of the load on the network has led to an explosion.
Moreover, Turkmenistan has accused Russia of grave breaches of the contract of sale of gas.
The explosion at the CAC pipeline, which is located on the border with Uzbekistan, occurred on the night of April 9. After that, the supply of Turkmen gas to Russia ceased.

Revenue budget of Russia in the first quarter fell by a quarter.

2009-04-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

KommentariiDaesh new projections! 27.03.2009Obnovlenny budget for 2009 has not yet been adopted, but ustarevaetDohody budget of Russia in the first quarter of 2009 decreased by 473 billion rubles (24.5 percent) compared to the same period a year earlier, while expenses - increased by 447 billion rubles ( 33.6 per cent). The statement was made Vice-Premier and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin. His words RIA News. According to Kudrin, the budget deficit in the first quarter recorded at 50 billion rubles, or 0.1 percent of GDP.
Later, at the Finance Ministry has started an official press release, which stated that the deficit for the three months amounted to 55.5 billion rubles. This income amounted to 1730 trillion rubles, expenses - 1780 trillion.
Recall that in the whole year, the government expects the budget deficit to eight per cent of GDP, taking into account all costs. The deficit is caused by a fall in prices of basic commodities the country exports, as well as a slowdown in economic activity in Russia. According to official figures, Russia's GDP in 2009 dropped to 2.2 percent.
In the first two months of 2009 budget of Russia was profitsitnym - income exceeded expenditure by 116.3 billion rubles. In January, a record surplus of 359.8 billion rubles.
In February 2009, Alexei Kudrin said that Russia's budget revenues in 2009 will be about 6.3 trillion rubles, which is 31.5 percent lower than in 2008. In the final budget, which has already been approved by the State Duma in first reading, is the figure of 6.7 trillion rubles. The cost countries will be 9.7 trillion rubles.
The Russian authorities decided to increase spending in a crisis because of the need to implement anti-crisis program. Without taking into account its costs are reduced by about a trillion rubles. For example, national defense expenditures will decrease by nearly 140 billion rubles.
The budget deficit is planned to be met from the Contingency Fund, which was formed under conditions of high oil prices on the world market.

The leaders of the administration Medvedev reported earnings.

2009-04-09T16:56:00.000-07:00

The official site of the presidential administration on 8 April were published data on income and property of Kremlin officials and their family members, including chief of staff Sergei Naryshkin, his first deputy, Vladislav Surkov and presidential envoys in federal districts and Parliament.
Sergei Naryshkin for 2008 in the amount of income received almost 5,8 million rubles. Owned by the head of the presidential administration was only one house. Other real estate or personal Naryshkin does not own a car. Tatiana Naryshkin, it should be noted, belongs to land, private flat, share flats, cars in the garage and a car Ford Focus.Vladislav Surkov never owns any movable or immovable property: it is only declared income amounting to almost 3.9 million rubles. His wife Natalia Dubovitskaya in two parcels of property, a house, apartment and house to protect the garage, as well as car Citroen C4. Dubovitskaya Revenues for 2008 exceeded 16.8 million rubles.
Most of all objects declared Deputy Naryshkin Alexei Gromov, the property which had nine of the properties. In the list of property Gromova, however, did not have flats: two parcels, two cottages, garage, three business buildings and residential building without the right to register.
Published information on income and aides Dmitry Medvedev: Arkady Dvorkovich earned for the year 2008 3.1 million rubles, Jahan Pollyeva - nearly 3.6 million rubles, while Konstantin Chuychenko received income amounting to 368.5 million rubles, including proceeds from the sale of real estate. Press Secretary of President Natalia Timakova earned for the year 3.2 million rubles, or real estate or cars in private ownership, it is not.
Site Administration published the income of plenipotentiaries in federal districts, the President of the Russian Federation, as well as the authorized representative of President of the Federal Assembly Alexander Kotenkova, the authorized representative in the Constitutional Court, Mikhail Krotov, Medvedev and the representative of the State Duma Minha.7 Gary and April 9 at the official website of the Russian government have been published information about the income of most high-ranking officials. Nevertheless, several heads of ministries has not yet been reported for 2008. Declaration of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev have been published on 6 April: it turned out that Putin has earned for the year to more than half a million rubles.

Gazprom has promised a sharp decline in gas production in Russia.

2009-04-09T15:54:00.000-07:00

Decrease in gas production in Russia in the next four to five years to reach 10 per cent. The statement was made vice-chairman of "Gazprom" Valery Golubev. According to him, in real terms this is about 60-70 billion cubic meters of gas, which corresponds to the annual consumption of Russian gas by Ukraine, RIA News.
According to the Central Dispatching Management of fuel and energy complex (TEK CDU), in the first quarter of 2009 the volume of gas production in Russia declined by 15 percent over the same period last year - up to 153 billion cubic meters.
Previously, it was reported that some large companies decline in production was very significant. For example, in "Gazprom" by mid-March, the average extraction fell by a quarter compared with the year 2008.
Reduced production due to the fact that in the context of the global financial crisis and recession in the global economy, demand for raw materials has fallen significantly.
The share of Gazprom accounts for 84 per cent of the volume of Russian gas production and 17 per cent of the total gas produced in the world. In 2007, Gazprom produced 548.6 billion cubic meters of gas, and in 2009, Gazprom increased its gas production to 549.7 billion cubic meters. This is 11.3 billion cubic meters less than the company's plan for 2008 (according to CDU TEK - extraction by Gazprom in 2008 amounted to 550.6 billion cubic meters).
Previously, it was reported that Russian gas monopoly allows the reduction of production in 2009 to 7 per cent and the minimum amount of production was established in 2009 at 510 billion cubic meters.

Fedun criticized Eastern Europe for "the political opposition in Russia."

2009-04-09T14:50:00.000-07:00

Russian investors withdraw funds from countries in Eastern Europe, particularly Poland and Lithuania, because of "political antagonism to Russia" on the part of those States. The statement was made Vice-President of Lukoil, Leonid Fedun, writes newspaper The Financial Times.
According to the newspaper, now Lukoil, a private company and 20 percent owned by U.S. company ConocoPhillips, is interested in buying two oil refineries belonging to the Polish energy concern PKN Orlen. The Polish Government controls 27 percent of the shares in PKN Orlen. Buying plants have good prospects in terms of business, but has a high political risks, as Poland is concerned that the Russian company will use its presence in the market power of Poland for political purposes.
By the similar arguments in 2008, led the Spanish policy. Remember, in November last year, appeared information that Lukoil intends to buy a significant stake in French oil concern Repsol. Spanish authorities have assumed that their presence in the country's largest oil company Lukoil will be used as a political tool. Later, the Russian company has denied reports that negotiates the purchase.
Because of the political hostility of Eastern Europe to Russia and other affected companies. In early April 2009 the Russian company "Surgutneftegas" has bought 21 percent shares in Hungarian energy company Mol. Previously, the package of securities owned by Austrian energy company OMV. Conclusion of the deal has caused sharp discontent of the Hungarian Government, which promised to enact laws to prevent such transactions in the future. In doing so, the chairman of the board of directors Mol Tszolt Hernadi (Zsolt Hernadi) accused the Austrians of "aiding Russian."

Russia Reserves fell for the first time in three weeks.

2009-04-09T13:48:00.000-07:00

International (gold) reserves of Russia for a week from 27 March to 3 April, fell to three billion dollars to 385 billion dollars. This is stated in the official press release of the Central Bank the country.
Prior to this, international reserves of Russia grew within two weeks. First, they have grown to nine billion dollars, and then - even at 2.7 billion dollars.
Earlier in the Central Bank reported that actively buy on the market of international currency reserves, as investors were showing interest in the ruble. In these circumstances, the Central Bank was forced to buy dollars and euros that the exchange rate does not increase too much. According to the monetary authorities, only the first seven days of April Centrobank bought on the market two billion dollars. This March, he bought four billion, and in February - even a billion.
During the autumn of 2008 and winter 2009 on Central Bank was forced to sell the currency market, as investors played against the ruble. These goals were spent hundreds of billions of dollars - even in August, the reserves amounted to nearly 600 billion dollars.
Reduction of reserves at the end of March and early April may be related to the revaluation reserves due to currency fluctuations. In addition, in 2009, Russia promised to take power from reserves (reserve fund that is included in the structure of international reserves) to cover the budget deficit. Only in April for this purpose is planned to allocate 600 billion rubles.
The international reserves of Russia are among the highest in the world. They consist mainly of U.S. and euro, as well as a number of other currencies, monetary gold, reserve position in IMF.

Turkmenistan halted gas supplies to Russia due to the explosion of a gas pipeline.

2009-04-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

The explosion at a pipeline "Central Asia-Center (CAC), brought an end to the supply of gas from Turkmenistan to Russia. That was reported by Interfax. "
As the agency of the National Holding Company Uzbekneftegaz, an explosion occurred on the evening of April 8, at the 487 kilometer pipeline CAC-4 (GMP "Ilyaly" - "Daryalyk) in the territory of Turkmenistan. The reason for the accident is not yet known. Fuel for the CAC-4 completely stopped.
Sources in the agency's oil and gas industry of Kazakhstan stated that the pipe break occurred in the air passage. Repair of the pipeline will take, according to preliminary estimates of Kazakh specialists, at least three days.
Gas pipeline Central Asia-Center ", ran through the territory of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Through CAC Russia to transit gas from Turkmenistan.

Central Bank of Russian Federation has calculated the income from each increase in oil prices.

2009-04-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

Increase the average price of oil at one dollar per barrel gives trade balance further three and a half billion dollars. The statement was made by the Central Bank first deputy chairman Alexei Ulyukaev. His words RIA news.
According to Central Bank estimates, the surplus trade balance of Russia on the basis of 2009 range from 50 to 80 billion dollars. Thus, if the price of oil was 41 dollars per barrel (it is of such a prediction to-the updated budget for 2009), the trade surplus will not exceed $ 40 billion.
The Central Bank is not the first time makes predictions that differ significantly from the forecasts of relevant ministries. Thus, at the end of March Ulyukaev said that the average exchange rate in Russia will be 32-33 rubles, rather than 35.1 rubles, as it is written in the budget.
In addition, the Central Bank did not agree with the data on inflation and capital outflows. Monetary authorities have felt that the pace of price growth in Russia could be below 13 percent, while the government predicts 13-14 per cent. With regard to the evaluation of capital outflows, according to CB, it will be less than 70 billion dollars, not 90 billion dollars is expected in the Ministry of Economic Development.
Projections of the Central Bank is more optimistic than the forecasts of the government. For example, the Central Bank believe that Russia does not wait a second wave of banking crises, and the worst for the economy is already behind us. In the Ministry of Finance believes that the banking crisis is to wait because of the growth in defaults on loans.
The price of oil in the first quarter averaged 44 dollars per barrel. In April, the cost of oil also remains above the government forecast in the 41 dollar per barrel. It is possible that due to the worsening global economic crisis, oil prices begin to fall again. Even in summer 2008, oil cost more than 140 dollars a barrel.
At the end of the first two months of 2009 Russia's balance of trade surplus amounted to 15.2 billion dollars. For comparison, in 2008 the figure stood at 33.4 billion dollars.

Onyshchenko accused of Belarusians in the supply of Moldovan wine in Russia.

2009-04-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

Rospotrebnadzor found that part of the Moldovan wine producers who do not have permission to supply their products in Russia, the export of wine through the territory of Belarus. This statement was made head of Rospotrebnadzor Gennady Onishchenko, said RIA Novosti.
"There is reason to believe that through Belarus in Russia carried out the supply of wine and wine are not permitted in the Russian Federation Moldovan producers, as well as supplies of these products from other regions, which Russia imposed a total ban," - said Onischenko. According to him, if confirmed on re-export of the Belarusian side of the claim may be made until the changes to free trade.
Prior to Rospotrebnadzor reported that in June 2007, 38 Moldovan factories - manufacturers of alcoholic products have been granted a positive sanitary-epidemiological conclusion. All this expertise was required to undergo 46 producers. On the territory of Russia have already been imported about 35 million liters of Moldovan wines and more than 4.6 million liters of cognac.
Recall Rospotrebnadzor banned the importation into the territory of Russia of Moldovan wines in connection with the discovery of harmful impurities. The supply of alcohol from Moldova were resumed about a year later, however, the Moldovan producers have been unable to regain its share in the Russian market. During the first half of 2008 imports of Moldovan wine in Russia fell by more than tenfold compared to the same period in 2005.

Ministry of Economic Development has predicted stagnant economy in 2010.

2009-04-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

KommentariiDaesh new projections! 27.03.2009Obnovlenny budget for 2009 has not yet been adopted, but ustarevaetV the Russian economy in 2010 is stagnant, if not renewed investment demand and credit the real sector. This statement was made Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia Andrei Klepach, reports RIA Novosti.
Stagnation known as the country's economy, in which there is no growth in industrial and agricultural production and trade. Stagnation or economic decline precedes or accompanies it.
In early March 2009, Vice-Premier and Minister of Finance Alexei Kudrin said that Russia's GDP in 2010 may grow by two to three per cent.
According to the Ministry of Economic Development, in 2009, the decline of Russia's GDP is expected to reach 2.2 per cent. April 7, Assistant to the Russian President Arkady Dvorkovich said that in the first quarter of the country's economy declined by seven percent. These data are consistent with a preliminary estimate of the Ministry of Economic Development.
In 2008, Russia's GDP grew by 5.6 per cent, while in 2007 - at 8.1 percent.

Ukraine asked the World Bank in half a billion dollars.

2009-04-09T08:24:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyRossiyskie loans SNG02.04.2009Minsk countries continue to demand that Moscow promised kreditAntikrizisnye loans MVF02.04.2009Meksika MVFUkrainskoe requested assistance from the Government is negotiating with the World Bank on a loan of half a billion dollars, which requires the country to cover budget deficit. This statement was made by Deputy Finance Minister Andrei Kravets of Ukraine, UNIAN transfers.
As reported earlier, President Victor Yushchenko, the budget deficit for 2009 is 80-85 billion hryvnia or 7,5-8 per cent of GDP. In mid-March, the former Minister of Finance of Ukraine Victor Pinzenyk estimated the budget deficit for the current year of 10 per cent of GDP.
Meanwhile, at the end of 2008 the Verkhovna Rada adopted the state budget, a deficit which amounts to 31,105 billion hryvnia (about three percent of GDP). In early March, it became known that Viktor Yushchenko has agreed with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko that in April-May, the budget will be revised. It is anticipated that after the revision of the budget deficit will be 3.1 percent of GDP.
Remember, in early February, Tymoshenko appealed to the ambassadors of the Group of Seven "(G7) for help in talks on a loan to cover the budget deficit. Then, Tymoshenko said that for this purpose the Ukrainian side should be five billion dollars. The same amount, as reported, Ukraine asked Russia in early March. While the Russian side solutions are not accepted for a loan.
In autumn 2008, Ukraine also agreed to obtain the stabilization loan to 16.5 billion dollars from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The first tranche of a loan of 4,5 billion dollars has already listed the Ukraine, but a condition for receiving the second tranche, at the request of the IMF, was to be a budget in which the deficit would not exceed one percent. In addition, instead of the planned growth of the country's GDP in the 0.4 per cent of the Ukrainian side had to rely on the decline of 8 per cent, but the projected inflation rate of 9.5 per cent needed to build on the target of 16 per cent.
April 8, it became known that mission arrived to Ukraine IMF to resume talks with the Ukrainian authorities on the allocation of the next tranche of loan crisis. External loans are required the Government of Ukraine since the country's economy suffered from the global financial crisis stronger than any other in Eastern Europe. Thus, the volume of industrial production in January 2009 fell by more than a third compared with January last year, while the probability of default state of Ukraine is estimated at 40 percent.

Agency Fitch downgraded the long-term ratings of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

2009-04-09T07:22:00.000-07:00

HQ Fitch Ratings. Photos from the site msu.ruMezhdunarodnoe agency Fitch Ratings has lowered long-term ratings of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the national and foreign currencies. In the case of all three countries, Fitch also left a "negative" forecasts on ratings, reports AFP.
Against the backdrop of financial crisis top of Estonia in the foreign currency was lowered from A-to BBB +, the national - from A to A-. Top of Latvia in foreign currency fell from BBB-to BB +, the national currency - from BBB to BBB-. Top of Lithuania in foreign and national currencies has dropped from BBB + to BBB and A-to BBB +, respectively. Note that in October 2008, Fitch Ratings was the second time reduces long-term ratings of the Baltic countries.
In a press release, Fitch analysts stressed that the most unstable situation in the Baltic region is observed in Latvia, a deteriorating economic situation despite the IMF and the European Union multibillion loan.

Japanese ruling party approved a new package of anti-crisis measures.

2009-04-09T06:20:00.000-07:00

Japanese ruling party on Thursday endorsed a new package of measures to maintain the country's economy in a global financial crisis, AFP reported on 9 April.
The plan provides for the allocation of 15.4 trillion yen (about 154 billion dollars) directly to emergency support for the economy and the affected companies. At the same time taking into account the indirect measures, such as providing guarantees on debt obligations of companies and tax breaks, the total value of anti-crisis financial package will be 56.8 trillion yen (nearly 570 billion dollars). It was expected that details of the plan will be known later in the week, when Prime Minister Taro Aso will present it to Parliament.
An earlier draft of stimulating the economy was predstavilen Japanese Government in December 2008. In accordance with the State was allocated a total of about 230 billion dollars. As a follow-up plan included the issuance of all citizens of the country's 12 thousand yen (120 dollars) in cash in order to encourage them to do more shopping.
At the end of the fourth quarter of 2008 Japan's GDP declined by 3.3 percent in the third quarter decline was 0.4 per cent, while in the second quarter - 2.4 percent. The current recession in the Japanese economy is the worst since the Second World War.

EMERCOM cleared Serbia for construction of "the Southern stream".

2009-04-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

Specialists of the Russian Ministry of Emergencies on April 7 began demining sites for future trails pipeline "Southern stream", which will link Russia and Europe under the Black Sea. That was reported by RIA Novosti.
According to the Information Office of the Ministry of Emergencies, in the territory of Serbia after the 1999 bombing of NATO aircraft were still many places in need of clearance. Last night was examined in the Serbian part of town Parachin more than three thousand square meters. Explosive devices were found.
"South Stream", the construction of which is Gazprom, together with partners, will be held in Bulgaria on the Black Sea. Then a branch pipeline will go through Greece to the south of Italy, and the second - through Serbia and Hungary to Austria. The carrying capacity of the Southern stream "is estimated at 47 billion cubic meters of gas a year.
March 10, 2009, Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin declared that "the Southern stream" will be completed by 2015, while the cost of the project was approximately 10 billion euro. In early February, "Gazprom said that the construction of the pipeline will cost 25 billion euros.
The project, in addition to Russia, are also involved Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Austria and Italy. With Serbia's accession to the "Southern stream" The Russian side agreed in late February 2008. February 25, an agreement was signed by the head of Gazprom Alexei Miller and the acting director of "Serbiyagaza" Sasha Ilic.

Switzerland has chosen the new leader of the former Central swimmers.

2009-04-08T17:02:00.000-07:00

The Swiss Federal Council has appointed a new president of the Central Bank the country. He became vice-president of Bank of Philipp Hildebrand (Philipp Hildebrand), stated in an official press release of the Federal Council. Hildebrand is known that in 2003 he became the youngest members of the Governing Board of the Central Bank, and until 1980 enjoyed a professional diver, but could not penetrate to the Olympics in 1984, said agency Bloomberg.
The current head of one of the most influential in the world of the Central Bank, Jean-Pierre Roth (Jean-Pierre Roth) leaves his post at the end of 2009. He announced the resignation in February. Prior to that, Roth worked at the Central Bank of Switzerland for more than 30 years.
According to the agency Bloomberg, Hildebrand is one of the main advocates of non-standard monetary policy. It will help Switzerland to withdraw from the economic crisis and the deepest recession since 1975.
In recent months, Central Bank of Switzerland on several occasions reduced the discount rate, bringing it to a level of 0.25 per annum. Such a decision taken and the other major developed countries, including the United States. While the decline in rates has only a limited effect on the recovery of world economy.

Russia to cut a third of spending on construction of new power plants.

2009-04-08T15:54:00.000-07:00

Budget funding for the general scheme of electric power by 2020 could decline by 30 percent. That was reported by RIA Novosti with reference to a source familiar with the draft amendments to the document.
In addition, officials may seriously alter the plans laid out in genshemu delivery projects by increasing the time frame for their implementation.
In the Ministry of Energy Agency reported that the scheme is still debated, but the final decision in the government has not yet been decided.
In February, Deputy Minister of Energy of Russia Vyacheslav Sinyugin has already stated that genshema placement of electric power by 2020 (GOELRO-2) can be drastically reduced. According to him, because of the crisis, the Government may reduce to two or three plans to build new energomoschnostey.
Map GOELRO-2 was adopted by Government in February 2008, but managed to fall significantly, as developed over two years and involves in the coming years the growth of electricity consumption in Russia.
Then the media called, only about the characteristics of the plan - an increase energomoschnostey Russia, depending on the growth of energy consumption from 211.3 gigawatts to 340,4-391,7 gigawatts. This cost should be between 423 to 542 billion dollars. Most of these funds were to be made by private investors who acquired the Russian power in the reorganization of RAO UES of Russia ".
However, for the first two months of this year, energy production in Russia fell by 5.9 percent over the same period of 2008 and amounted to 181 billion kilowatt-hours. In doing so, energy consumption fell by 6.3 per cent to 178 billion kilowatt-hours
Â Reducing energy consumption and the warm winter has meant that power companies have begun loses the profits they expected to spend, particularly on the investment program.
According to the newspaper Vedomosti, the amount investprogramm within GOELRO-2 for 2008-2012 amounts to 1.8 trillion rubles.

A large part of Russia did not survive until 2020.

2009-04-08T14:50:00.000-07:00

Most of the Russian economy is so ineffective, that does not survive the next decade. This statement was made assistant to the Russian President Arkady Dvorkovich, the PRIME-TASS.
Dvorkovich the opinion, in Russia it is necessary to create new and effective production and technology and to stop lending to inefficient production. "Otherwise we will lose" - said Dvorkovich. In addition, he said, without the modernization of production in Russia "has no chance to maintain the pace of economic growth."
Earlier, Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin, speaking in the Duma, said that the right of state to receive only those companies that are restructuring the business and able to service their debts. Premier said that if the closure of any business is inevitable, you should not save their owners, care for employees in these enterprises Nationals.
Recall that in December 2008, the Russian government approved a list of the three backbone entities of strategic importance that will be able to count of state in one form or another. The budget of 2009 for this purpose is reserved 625 billion rubles: gosgarantii 300 billion in loans and 325 billion dollars in direct aid.
Previously, it was reported that on the basis of January 2009 industrial production in Russia declined by 16 percent over the same period a year earlier. This decline was a record since 1994, when the fall promproizvodstva was 18 percent. Rosstat recorded in February industrial production growth at 6.4 percent in January (excluding seasonal factors) and a decrease of 13.2 percent compared to February 2008.
This reduction in Russia's GDP in January-March this year was seven percent. The fall of Russia's GDP is due to the global financial crisis and falling demand for the country's main export commodities. In the Ministry of Economic Development has stressed that the sharp decrease in GDP and domestic factors have affected, in particular, lack of economic diversification. In 2008, GDP grew by 5.6 per cent and this decline by 2.2 percent.

Switzerland to protest a freeze on account of "the club of rich countries."

2009-04-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

Switzerland has frozen the account of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which comprises the 30 most developed countries in the world. That was reported by AFP, referring to the press-secretary of the Ministry of Economy of Switzerland Baldegger Rita (Rita Baldegger). According to her, so Switzerland is their disagreement with the inclusion of state in the "gray list" of tax havens. "
The Ministry noted that the use of its veto on the OECD transfer of 136 thousand euro, which provided for cooperation between the "club of rich countries" and "Twenty Grand" (G20).
In the "gray" OECD hit list of some 40 nations. They have already promised to the OECD to bring its banking legislation in line with the terms of the organization, but have not yet done so. Four countries - Costa Rica, Malaysia, Philippines and Uruguay - came in the "blacklist". That means that they are countries that can be used by citizens of other States for tax evasion. In early April, it became known that all the countries of the "black" list, agreed to cooperate with the OECD.
Switzerland has repeatedly indignant that hit the "gray list. For example, on 3 April at the Ministry of Finance stated that the criteria of the OECD on the integration of the "gray" list are not clear. In addition, in Switzerland noted that it is always ready for dialogue with the tax administrations of other countries in investigating cases of tax evasion.
In early 2009, it was reported that Switzerland had to get into the "black" list of the OECD, but in March the country has declared its readiness to cooperate with the OECD and review its banking laws. Similarly, received Belgium, Luxembourg, Andorra and Liechtenstein.

Russians dissuade the economy of their country.

2009-04-08T12:42:00.000-07:00

Level of consumer confidence of Russia's population has declined sharply in the first quarter of 2009, Rosstat said in an official press release.
The index of consumer confidence, which reflects consumer expectations of Russians who fell compared to the fourth quarter of 2008 by 15 percentage points, as compared to the same period of 2008 - by 35 percentage points.
This level corresponds to the index indicators for the fourth quarter of 1999. The sharp decline in the index linked to the deterioration of the general population estimates of the economic conditions in the country, and personal financial situation of the Russians.
According to Rosstat, the worsening economic situation in the country, said 83 percent of Russians. In doing so, the possible positive economic developments in Russia indicated only 13 percent of respondents, but adverse changes in the economy expect a 48 per cent of respondents.
Recall that inflation in Russia, on the basis of March amounted to 1,2-1,3 per cent. During the first two months of 2009 prices rose by 4.1 percent. Thus, for the quarter was passed in the five percent mark.
In doing so, prices in Russia continue to grow, with significant falls in GDP - a 7 per cent in the first quarter. According to official figures, in 2009, inflation stood at 13-14 per cent.

Unemployment in Russia has reached the bottom strip projection MoH.

2009-04-08T11:38:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyRost unemployment Rossii30.03.2009Tempy rising unemployment snizyatsyaChislo officially registered unemployed in Russia, according to latest figures MHSD, on 1 April 2009 has reached the mark of 2199 million, the agency Interfax. Thus, from March 18, the number of registered unemployed in Russia grew by 66 thousand people.
According to official government forecasts of unemployment in Russia by the end of the year was 2.2 million. In early March, the head of MHSD Tatiana Golikova stated that this figure could grow to 2.8 million (negative scenario), and the total number of unemployed is expected to reach seven million people (now - 6.4 million).
Ministry of Health reported an increase in unemployment of approximately once a week. On March 25 the number of registered unemployed stood at 2.164 billion people, but on March 18 - 2133 million people.
The World Bank estimates that the number of officially registered unemployed in 2009 will grow to 2.7 million.
March 30, Vice Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said that the peak growth of unemployment in Russia passed, though not explained why he believes so. From 1 October 2008 the number of officially registered unemployed persons increased by 1.7 million people.

Moscow has replaced the head financial unit.

2009-04-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

The Government of Moscow Region dismissed the head of financial units Alexei Panteleeva and instead appointed him head of "Mosoblgaz" Dmitry Bolshakov. This writes the newspaper Kommersant. This rearrangement was the third since the summer of 2008, when retired, former Finance Minister Alexei Kuznetsov region.
Kuznetsova as Finance Minister Alexei Panteleev replaced it. He had to cope with the difficulties associated with the suspension of payments on the debt of affiliated companies to the area. Until now, the problem is not solved: how to Kommersant, "dramatically change the situation the team was unable to Panteleeva.
In mid-March, it was reported that Moscow had received from the Ministry of Finance of Russia a loan of two billion rubles. These funds will help pay the Moscow region as its own debts, and debts for which the budget guarantee. Total cost is estimated at 40 billion rubles.
In late October 2008 in the Russian media have appeared rumors about the possible defaulted Moscow region. Since then they have been repeatedly denied by authorities in the region, including the Governor Boris Gromov.
In early April it was reported that the Moscow region will help to cope with huge debts, the Federal Antimonopoly Service. She filed a case against Mosobldumy on suspicion of providing illegal state guarantees "the Moscow Region Mortgage Corporation (IKMO). If the FAS will be able to prove the illegality of these guarantees, the case could be the case and lead to the initiation of other cases on the same grounds.
Nevertheless, even if the state guarantees will be declared illegal, then the Moscow region will still have to pay the debts as IKMO belongs to Moscow.

Three-quarters investfondov believe Russia and the CIS unattractive for investment.

2009-04-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

Russia's position in the rating of emerging markets in terms of attractiveness of direct investment has sharply declined. This write Vedomosti, citing a study by the annual Association of the funds of direct investments in emerging markets (EMPEA) and fund Coller Capital. According to the poll, 74 percent believe investfondov Russia and CIS countries unattractive for investment.
According to experts from Coller, Russia "broke" from the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China). Interest in investment in Brazil has grown, and to invest in China and India - has declined slightly, despite those countries affected the global economic crisis. According to the World Bank, Russia's GDP in 2009 dropped to 2.5 percent, while the Brazilian economy will grow by half, and China - at 6.5 percent.
The CIS countries have been only in the study area, which in the next year or two, investors will lose rather than gain. Payment for investment risk in Russia and the Commonwealth, one of the highest among all emerging markets - by 8.4 percentage points higher than for developed countries. The same high premiums investors require only sub-Saharan Africa.
EMPEA President Sarah Alexander noted that the extremely low attractiveness of Russia could be partly due to fears of investors concerning the intervention of Russian authorities in their structure. However, this applies only to those investors who do not have much experience in the country.
According to Rosstat, in 2008 the volume of foreign investments into the country fell by 14.2 percent over the previous year. Of these, direct investment fell by 2.8 per cent.

New taxes to the budget-2009 will not be.

2009-04-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

SyuzhetyIzmeneniya in the budget for the 2009-2011 budget adopted gody06.04.2009Duma in the first chteniiNovye taxes in the revised budget of Russia in 2009 would not form. The statement was made first vice-premier Igor Shuvalov, reports RIA Novosti. In particular, it will not put a tax on financial transactions.
Earlier, Russian media reported that the Federal Tax Service (NRF) has proposed to introduce in Russia a new tax of 0.5 percent on all financial transactions of legal persons. Additional budget revenues from this new tax estimated at 400 billion rubles.
In addition to the tax on bank transactions NRF has proposed several measures the total value of a trillion rubles. Among other things, recommended to extend the tax recovery of tax arrears to three years.
Shuvalov also said that the government soon will not make a decision on the imposition of differential tax on individuals. Earlier, in favor of maintaining a flat tax scale in the near future, called Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, speaking before the State Duma.
Recall that the budget for 2009-2011 has been changed because of the deteriorating situation and the economic crisis in Russia and the world. The amended version of the budget was adopted by the State Duma on April 6 in the first reading. The budget deficit will be 3 trillion rubles, which is a record in the history of the country.