No Script

Please Wait...

Ramadan Kareem...

May Considering Ban on Russian Bonds from London Exchange - Reports

May Considering Ban on Russian Bonds from London Exchange - Reports
folder_openUnited Kingdom access_time6 years ago
starAdd to favorites

Local Editor

UK Prime Minister Theresa May plans to consider the proposal to prohibit the sale of Russian bonds through the City of London's clearing houses, which help finance Russia's sovereign debt, according to The Guardian.

May Considering Ban on Russian Bonds from London Exchange - Reports

The move was earlier initiated by Foreign Affairs Select Committee Chairman Tom Tugendhat, who pointed the finger at several sanctioned Russian banks, including VTB, which he claimed are behind the issue of Russian bonds due to UK and EU legislation.

"At present, Russia can borrow in EU and US capital markets despite western sanctions and then can support the sanctioned Kremlin-linked banks and energy companies that can no longer do so," he said.

Calling for the loopholes to be scrapped, Tugendhat also warned that Russian bond sales should not be placed at major western clearing houses Euroclear and Clearstream, a proposal that was supported by UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

Critics cast doubt on the possible clampdown, suggesting that Moscow may urge China to help it deal with Russia's reported 122-billion dollar domestic debt plus 38 billion dollars more in Eurobonds.

Earlier, Sergei Strigo, head of emerging market debt and currencies at Amundi Asset Management, told Bloomberg that they "still like Russia as an investment opportunity" and that he "doesn't see any reason" for the current political tensions to change his stance on Russia as a target for investments.

The remarks came after Theresa May commented on the expulsion of Russian diplomats from about 20 European countries as well the US and Canada after the Salisbury incident.

May added that in connection with the expulsions, the UK Interior Ministry is reviewing tier one [entrepreneur] visas, which were issued to roughly 700 Russians in 2008-2015.

Moscow strongly denies London's claims of Russia's involvement in the poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain's Salisbury on March 4.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

 

Comments