The world's biggest banks are advising their clients to load up on Russian rubles

[North Pole Resident]

Today is THE time to invest in Russia.
Investing in today's Russia is like investing in McDonald's in 1950s or in Microsoft in 1980s.

Don't be left behind - invest in Russia today.

[North Pole Resident]

From Bloomgerg:

The world's biggest banks are advising their clients to load up on rubles in a bet that one of the first things Dmitry Medvedev may do after he's sworn in as Russia's president this week is to allow a stronger currency.


Merrill Lynch & Co., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Deutsche Bank AG predict gains of as much as 4 percent in the next six months. They say pressure will mount on the central bank to let the ruble appreciate to stem inflation even if it risks damping profits of oil and energy exporters, which according to Merrill Lynch fund more than half of the federal budget.

The last time Bank Rossii, which must submit proposed changes in monetary policy to the government, allowed the ruble to strengthen was in August, when the inflation rate was 8.5 percent. It's now 13.3 percent, five times the average of the Group of Seven industrialized nations. Two interest-rate increases this year failed to restrain consumer prices, and Russia ``isn't ruling out'' letting the ruble gain, Bank Rossii Deputy Chairman Alexei Ulyukayev said April 24.

``Ruble appreciation will continue to be a key anti- inflation tool given the limited domestic monetary instruments the central bank has at its disposal,'' said Ramin Toloui, a senior vice president at Newport Beach, California-based Pacific Investment Management Co., which manages more than $800 billion. ``That favors continued ruble appreciation.''

The central bank sets the price of the ruble against a so- called currency basket made up of 0.55 dollars and 0.45 euros.

It let the currency appreciate against the basket three times last year by a total of about 1.3 percent. The ruble was at 36.7684 per euro and 23.7601 per dollar at 9:18 a.m. in New York.

Surging Growth

Russia, the world's biggest energy exporter, has expanded an average of about 7 percent a year since President Vladimir Putin, 55, took office in 2000. During that time, the price of oil has risen almost fivefold to a record $119.93 a barrel. The economy will grow 6.6 percent this year, more than five times the 1.2 percent average of the G-7, according to Merrill Lynch.

Medvedev, 42, and the central bank are faced with the challenge of maintaining growth while stemming inflation. Consumer prices have surpassed the government's target every year since 2003.

Bringing down the inflation rate ``is one of our biggest priorities,'' Putin said during his annual press conference on Feb. 14. Putin will become responsible for the economy when he assumes the role of prime minister on May 8, the day after Medvedev's inauguration.

`Doing Everything'


READ MORE - Bloomberg.com: Currencies

[North Pole Resident]

"5", Saint Sophia Cathedral in Velikiy Novgorod



"500", Peter the Great



"1000", Monument to Yaroslav I the Wise




"1000", Church of Precursor in Yaroslavl



"5000", Head of the monument to Muravyov-Amursky



The original symbol of the Ruble used throughout the 17th century. Comprised of the Russian letters "Ð" and "Ó".




A non-official ruble sign that is beginning to be used throughout Russia. This image shows the sign in many different fonts.

[Mikeyy]

I am skeptical of anyone telling me where to put my money. And besides these are the same guys that are always left clueless. Do you think it could be possible these corporations are trying to move the ruble with a story like that? Could they have motives? HMMMM ??????

[saltwn]

Originally Posted by Mikeyy

I am skeptical of anyone telling me where to put my money. And besides these are the same guys that are always left clueless. Do you think it could be possible these corporations are trying to move the ruble with a story like that? Could they have motives? HMMMM ??????

I was thinking something similar, but I am also a gambler at heart. And that part of me says well...........sure would be nice.

[AmericanDreamer]

NPR, I'd like to see links to some of these Russian businesses we should invest in. It might be a bit more exciting than just wasting my money on lotto.

[Mikeyy]

Originally Posted by AmericanDreamer

NPR, I'd like to see links to some of these Russian businesses we should invest in. It might be a bit more exciting than just wasting my money on lotto.

Invest in Australian mining. Copper and Aluminum.

[Bourne]

4% in 6 months is nothing. I can get 4.85% over 6 months with a CD.

[North Pole Resident]

Originally Posted by AmericanDreamer

NPR, I'd like to see links to some of these Russian businesses we should invest in. It might be a bit more exciting than just wasting my money on lotto.

Well, there are HUNDREDS of companies you can invest in.
I's suggest these three to begin with: Gazprom, Evraz and Sukoi.

1. Gazprom

Gazprom









Gazprom

OJSC Gazprom, (Russian: Газпром; long version: Открытое Aкционерное Oбщество Газпром; sometimes transcribed as Gasprom) is the largest Russian company. Gazprom is publicly traded as RTS:GAZP MICEX:GAZP LSE: OGZD; Russian: ОАО Газпром. Gazprom is the largest extractor of natural gas in the world. With sales of US$31 billion in 2004, it accounts for about 93 percent of Russian natural gas production; with reserves of 28,800 km³, it controls 16 percent of the world's gas reserves (as of 2004[2], including the Shtokman field.) After acquisition of the oil company Sibneft, Gazprom, with 119 billion barrels (18,900,000,000 m³) of reserves, ranks behind only Saudi Arabia, with 263 billion barrels (41,800,000,000 m³), and Iran, with 133 billion barrels (21,100,000,000 m³), as the world's biggest owner of oil and oil equivalent in natural gas.

Gazprom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



2. Evraz

Evraz | Overview
EVRAZ






Evraz Group is one of the world's leading vertically integrated steel production and mining businesses, with operations mainly in Russia. In 2006, Evraz Group produced 16.1 million tonnes of crude steel.
Evraz Group - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Evraz to buy Canadian plate and pipe firm for $4 bln

MOSCOW, March 14 (RIA Novosti) -Evraz Group (LSE: EVR), whose shareholders include Roman Abramovich, is set to purchase IPSCO Canada's plate and pipe business for a cost of $4 billion, Russia's largest steel producer said Friday. With plants in Regina, Calgary and Red Deer, IPSCO Canada is a leading North American producer of steel plates, as well as pipes for the oil and gas industry.
RIA Novosti - Business - Evraz to buy Canadian plate and pipe firm for $4 bln


Evraz places $400 mln in Eurobonds
16/ 05/ 2008

MOSCOW, May 16 (RIA Novosti) - Evraz Group [LSE: EVR], Russia's largest steel and mining company, announced on Friday the placement of two Eurobond issues in a volume of more than $400 million.

The first issue matures in five years with a coupon rate of 8.875%, and totals $250 million. The second has a term of 10 years, with a rate of 9.5%.

In April, the company completed a Eurobond placement totaling $1.6 billion. The group said in a statement it would use the funds raised from the issue for corporate purposes including the acquisition of Canada's IPSCO Tubulars.

The company announced in March the acquisition of IPSCO, a leading steel supplier in Canada and the United States, from Sweden's steel producer SSAB for $4 billion.
Evraz Group posted revenue calculated to International Financial Reporting Standards of $12.8 billion, net profit of $2.44 billion, and EBITDA at $4.25 billion last year.
RIA Novosti - Russia - Evraz places $400 mln in Eurobonds




3. Sukhoi


Sukhoi Company (JSC) - Main page

Sukhoi is a major Russian fighter aircraft manufacturer. Founded by Pavel Sukhoi in 1939 as the Sukhoi Design Bureau (OKB-51, design office prefix Su), it is currently known as Sukhoi Corporation. It is comprised of the JSC Sukhoi Design Bureau located in Moscow, the Novosibirsk Aviation Production Association (NAPO), the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Production Association (KnAAPO) and Irkutsk Aviation. Sukhoi is headquartered in Moscow.

Sukhoi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia









Sukhoi Superjet 100 aeroplane family is being developed based on the principle of maximum standardization of frame assemblies and systems, viz.: wings, fins, chassis, engine unit, crew cabin, basic aeroplane systems and component parts.
The standardization of the design will make it possible to improve the economic performance of the aeroplane family operation with expenditures kept at a rational level.
The aerodynamics and design of the aeroplanes of the family are based on proven advanced technology to minimise technical risks at the stage of design, testing and operation.
Sukhoi Company (JSC) - Airplanes - Civil aviation - Sukhoi Superjet 100



Russian Superjet 100 ready for test flights - manufacturer
14:27 | 16/ 05/ 2008



KOMSOMOLSK-ON-AMUR, May 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's new Superjet 100 medium-haul passenger airliner will make its first test flight in late May, the head of the Sukhoi aircraft-manufacturing holding said on Friday.

Sukhoi originally planned to start test flights of the aircraft at the end of 2007, but ran into technical problems and had to postpone testing until now, which may affect future production and delivery schedules.

"We have completed all preliminary ground testing. The aircraft is finally ready for flight tests," Mikhail Pogosyan, Sukhoi's general director, said during a visit to an aircraft-manufacturing plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia's Far East.

The Superjet 100 project is a family of medium-range passenger aircraft developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in cooperation with major American and European aviation corporations, including Boeing, Snecma, Thales, Messier Dowty, Liebherr Aerospace, and Honeywell.

Sukhoi plans to manufacture at least 700 Superjet 100s, and intends to sell 35% of them to North America, 25% to Europe, 10% to Latin America, and 7% to Russia and China.

RIA Novosti - Russia - Russian Superjet 100 ready for test flights - manufacturer

Gazprom

EVRAZ

Sukhoi Company (JSC) - Main page

[North Pole Resident]

June 06, 2008

Sukhoi Superjet to Be Presented at St. Petersburg Economic Forum

Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum

Sukhoi Co. General Director Mikhail Pogosyan will present regional Sukhoi Superjet-100 to participants of St. Petersburg Economic Forum, RIA Novosti reported with reference to the company’s press service.
During the presentation, Sukhoi will show the exhibits telling about creation and the first flight of Sukhoi Superjet-100, which was made in May.

Mikhail Pogosyan will also attend Russia’s-U.S. Round Table that will be dedicated to strategic economic partnership of Russia and the United States. Sukhoi chief will speak about the company’s experience in creating regional passenger jets in the environment of the broadest international cooperation that has had no precedent in Russia’s history of aircraft construction.

Sukhoi Superjet-100 that is the first crucially new jet of Russia since the collapse of the USSR will replace obsolete Tu-134, Yak-42 in the country and be exported overseas. The project worth is estimated at around $1.4 billion.

St. Petersburg hosts the 12th International Economic Forum June 6 through 8. Representatives of the business, economic and academic elite of the world will focus on issues of global economy and the role of Russia in them.
Kommersant - Russia's Daily Online

Sukhoi Superjet to Be Presented at St. Petersburg Economic Forum - Kommersant Moscow