Post by Sapphire Capital on Nov 12, 2008 6:34:18 GMT 4
Russia weakens rouble support, probe depresses stocks
Tue Nov 11, 2008 1:57pm EST
* Russian markets, rouble extend losses
* Central bank cedes ground on currency support
* Market fears of political interference resurface
* Medvedev asks parliament to extend presidential term
Source: Melissa Akin and Christian Lowe
MOSCOW, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Russia's central bank conceded on Tuesday it would have to let the rouble fall further after the currency took a new battering and market fears of Kremlin interference in a bluechip stock helped drive down share prices.
The Kremlin, controlling the world's third-largest forex reserves, has said it can ride out the worst of the global financial crisis but sharp falls in the price of oil, the engine of the economy, have sparked renewed selling of Russian assets.
"It's Armageddon," said a Moscow-based hedge fund manager, who declined to be named, after the MICEX .MCX exchange's main index fell 12.6 percent and the benchmark RTS bourse .IRTS fell 10.7 percent to its lowest level this month.
The central bank widened the rouble's trading band against the euro/dollar basket by 30 kopecks in each direction to increase exchange rate flexibility.
The prospect of more falls in the rouble is likely to fuel nervousness among investors and ordinary people who -- despite Kremlin assurances that the currency is safe -- have already started switching their savings to dollars and euros.
Russia's three main television stations, which are either state-owned or controlled by state firms, ignored or played down the decision to widen the trading band.
Long-standing fears in the market about government interference in private business found a new focus in Uralkali (URKA.MM), a potash producer which said an official probe into a mine flood two years ago had been re-opened.
Investor jitters drove the company's share price down 23 percent in London (URKAq.L), extending losses to over 70 percent since Friday's close, and 34.81 percent on the MICEX exchange.
Adding to a growing sense of political uncertainty, President Dmitry Medvedev asked parliament to approve a draft law extending the presidential term by two years -- a change some observers say is paving the way for ex-president Vladimir Putin to make a comeback to the Kremlin.
Putin's spokesman has denied any such plan, and Medvedev has said the longer term is needed to give the head of state more time to push through reforms. If approved, the extension will not apply to Medvedev's term in office.
ROUBLE SUPPORT
Currency dealers' estimates showed the central bank spent $7 billion supporting the rouble on Tuesday, but it was unable to stop it falling to 30.70 against its euro/dollar basket -- about 30 kopecks below the bank's support level.
The bank then widened the rouble's trading band.
"We believe today's move achieves nothing," Renaissance Capital economist Alexei Moiseyev said. "The central bank should either have held the basket or let it go completely."
Reflecting concern that the $200 billion the state has made available in an anti-crisis package is being spirited out of the country, the central bank also raised key interest rates by one percentage point.
Medvedev, echoing comments by Putin a day earlier, told a meeting in the Kremlin that government aid to banks should be used to kick-start the economy and not to buy foreign currency.
BAD MEMORIES
With oil down more than $3.50 on the New York Mercantile Exchange CLc1, pressure mounted on Russian asset prices.
The MICEX exchange reacted to the steep fall in its index by suspending trade for a day on Wednesday -- unless the regulator orders it to restart before the opening bell on Nov. 13.
Uralkali was among the worst performers. Senior figures in the Kremlin and the government have been silent on the company since it said on Friday it was under renewed investigation.
But the whiff of a new probe has revived memories among investors of Mechel (MTL.N), a coal miner and steel maker whose share price dived in July after Putin launched a savage verbal attack on the company's domestic coal pricing policies.
Analysts say the Mechel affair highlighted the political risk of doing business in Russia and aggravated an exodus of capital caused by the financial crisis and Russia's war with neighbouring Georgia in August.
Other casualties of the stock market falls were state savings bank Sberbank (SBER03.MM), mining giant Norilsk Nickel (GMKN.MM) and state-controlled oil company Rosneft (ROSN.MM).
Trading in their shares was suspended for one hour during the day after declines of 10 percent or more.
Tue Nov 11, 2008 1:57pm EST
* Russian markets, rouble extend losses
* Central bank cedes ground on currency support
* Market fears of political interference resurface
* Medvedev asks parliament to extend presidential term
Source: Melissa Akin and Christian Lowe
MOSCOW, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Russia's central bank conceded on Tuesday it would have to let the rouble fall further after the currency took a new battering and market fears of Kremlin interference in a bluechip stock helped drive down share prices.
The Kremlin, controlling the world's third-largest forex reserves, has said it can ride out the worst of the global financial crisis but sharp falls in the price of oil, the engine of the economy, have sparked renewed selling of Russian assets.
"It's Armageddon," said a Moscow-based hedge fund manager, who declined to be named, after the MICEX .MCX exchange's main index fell 12.6 percent and the benchmark RTS bourse .IRTS fell 10.7 percent to its lowest level this month.
The central bank widened the rouble's trading band against the euro/dollar basket by 30 kopecks in each direction to increase exchange rate flexibility.
The prospect of more falls in the rouble is likely to fuel nervousness among investors and ordinary people who -- despite Kremlin assurances that the currency is safe -- have already started switching their savings to dollars and euros.
Russia's three main television stations, which are either state-owned or controlled by state firms, ignored or played down the decision to widen the trading band.
Long-standing fears in the market about government interference in private business found a new focus in Uralkali (URKA.MM), a potash producer which said an official probe into a mine flood two years ago had been re-opened.
Investor jitters drove the company's share price down 23 percent in London (URKAq.L), extending losses to over 70 percent since Friday's close, and 34.81 percent on the MICEX exchange.
Adding to a growing sense of political uncertainty, President Dmitry Medvedev asked parliament to approve a draft law extending the presidential term by two years -- a change some observers say is paving the way for ex-president Vladimir Putin to make a comeback to the Kremlin.
Putin's spokesman has denied any such plan, and Medvedev has said the longer term is needed to give the head of state more time to push through reforms. If approved, the extension will not apply to Medvedev's term in office.
ROUBLE SUPPORT
Currency dealers' estimates showed the central bank spent $7 billion supporting the rouble on Tuesday, but it was unable to stop it falling to 30.70 against its euro/dollar basket -- about 30 kopecks below the bank's support level.
The bank then widened the rouble's trading band.
"We believe today's move achieves nothing," Renaissance Capital economist Alexei Moiseyev said. "The central bank should either have held the basket or let it go completely."
Reflecting concern that the $200 billion the state has made available in an anti-crisis package is being spirited out of the country, the central bank also raised key interest rates by one percentage point.
Medvedev, echoing comments by Putin a day earlier, told a meeting in the Kremlin that government aid to banks should be used to kick-start the economy and not to buy foreign currency.
BAD MEMORIES
With oil down more than $3.50 on the New York Mercantile Exchange CLc1, pressure mounted on Russian asset prices.
The MICEX exchange reacted to the steep fall in its index by suspending trade for a day on Wednesday -- unless the regulator orders it to restart before the opening bell on Nov. 13.
Uralkali was among the worst performers. Senior figures in the Kremlin and the government have been silent on the company since it said on Friday it was under renewed investigation.
But the whiff of a new probe has revived memories among investors of Mechel (MTL.N), a coal miner and steel maker whose share price dived in July after Putin launched a savage verbal attack on the company's domestic coal pricing policies.
Analysts say the Mechel affair highlighted the political risk of doing business in Russia and aggravated an exodus of capital caused by the financial crisis and Russia's war with neighbouring Georgia in August.
Other casualties of the stock market falls were state savings bank Sberbank (SBER03.MM), mining giant Norilsk Nickel (GMKN.MM) and state-controlled oil company Rosneft (ROSN.MM).
Trading in their shares was suspended for one hour during the day after declines of 10 percent or more.