The flotation of Russian toy retailer Detsky Mir on Moscow’s stock exchange was a significant moment for the country’s capital markets, which have been quiet in recent years. Joanne Hart reports.

The Russian government is committed to creating a strong fintech community to rival other global innovation hubs, and domestic banks are playing their role in providing start-ups with know-how and backing, writes Heather McKenzie. 

After a contraction in investment levels since 2014, Russia’s first renminbi-denominated bond could signal the beginning of a new age of Chinese interest in the country’s financial potential. Stefanie Linhardt reports.

A sluggish economy, high interest rates and greater scrutiny are hitting Russia's banks, especially smaller institutions, with some opting for consolidation as a way to survive, as Stefanie Linhardt reports.

As Russia continues to grapple with low oil prices and Western sanctions, the government's structural reforms and privatisation plans are designed to kick-start growth and balance the budget deficit. But is the time right to sell state assets? Stefanie Linhardt investigates.

In two years, Otkritie FC Bank’s Konstantin Tserazov has transformed its investment business through a three-way split between its bond portfolio, repurchase agreements and derivatives. Now, he tells Stefanie Linhardt, he intends to diversify the Russia-focused bank even further.

Riccardo Orcel, the head of global banking at VTB Capital, speaks to Stefanie Linhardt about cultivating the bank’s domestic Russian operation and taking an idiosyncratic approach to growing business in global markets. 

While most large Russian banks have managed to hold onto their position relative to each other, they have all suffered significant falls in Tier 1 capital and profits as they find themselves challenged by currency depreciation and difficult market conditions. Written by Matthew Karwacki, research by Valeria Yakutovich.

A bold new digital strategy is transforming Russian lender Sberbank, creating new efficiencies, boosting revenues and customer numbers, and protecting the Russian institution's majority market share.