By John Helmer, Moscow Oleg Deripaska’s electricity company, Eurosibenergo, is facing the loss of between 7% and 33% of its potential value in the Hong Kong market, as the banks running the attempt at a listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange can find few sharebuyers who value the company above the range of $4 […]

by John Helmer - Tuesday, November 16th, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow The Russian national potash champion has found Canadian resource nationalism too hot a nutrient to handle.

by John Helmer - Tuesday, November 16th, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow The threat of a total ban on the multi-billion dollar frozen chicken trade to Russia, commencing January 1, has been dropped by the head of Russia’s Trade and Inspection Agency (Rospotrebnadzor, RPN), Gennady Onishchenko. Just as he gave no reason for threatening the ban a few days ago, Onishchenko has given […]

by John Helmer - Monday, November 15th, 2010
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Sir Henry Vane, born November 15, 1613 – executed for treason in London, June 14, 1662

by John Helmer - Monday, November 15th, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow There are only so many ways a Russian company can make its performance look better to the markets without resorting to magic tricks.

by John Helmer - Friday, November 12th, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow Nord Gold, the Russian mining company owned by Alexei Mordashov, has run into a grave new legal challenge to one of its most valuable gold-mining operations in the West African Republic of Guinea. The bad news comes after the unexplained failure of Mordashov’s company to confirm that it has been approved […]

by John Helmer - Friday, November 12th, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow Negotiations between Surat Rough Diamond Sourcing Ltd (SRDSIL), one of the largest cutters and polishers of diamonds in the world, are under way with Alrosa and the Russian state stockpile agency Gokhran. And just a few days after they began in Moscow, the Indian move has triggered an unusual domestic protest. […]

by John Helmer - Thursday, November 11th, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow Metalloinvest, the steel and iron-ore holding controlled by Alisher Usmanov, has issued a press release summarizing what it claims are audited financial results for the six months to June 30. The good news has been timed, and also trimmed, to boost Usmanov’s attempt to find market demand and regulatory approval for […]

by John Helmer - Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow Sergei Generalov has once again proved to be the federal Transport Ministry’s Ninja, leaping out of his staid business-suit and spectacle disguise to toss his grappling-hook, and rescue the privatization of state-owned rail transport company, Transcontainer.

by John Helmer - Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow The Kremlin is thinking of bidding against Australia’s BHP Billiton (BHP) for control of Canada’s leading potash producer, Potash Corporation. But those promoting the bid in Moscow won’t say why they believe the Canadian government should agree to a takeover which the Russians admit they would ask Russia’s Control Commission for […]

by John Helmer - Tuesday, November 9th, 2010
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