The majority of the Russians speak well of the CIS and the European Union. However, their attitude towards NATO and the USA is so negative that the majority of Russia’s citizens think that in the soviet times the world has been safer than today. Such are the results of the latest survey held by the sociologists of the VCIOM (All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center).

World’s largest producer and marketer of wine, the US Constellation Brands (such brands as Hardy’s, Robert Mondavi and Paul Masson), establishes its subsidiary in Russia. The company intends to spend more than $2,4 million annually, or nearly 10% from annual sales for the promotion of its brands at the Russian market. The experts say that the specific feature of the wine market is the absence of any brands, and Constellation has to promote the wine for the Russians as a category.

Russia suggests the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to join forces targeted at the stabilization of prices at the world oil market. So, on Tuesday, September, 9, Russia’s Vice Premier Igor Sechin passed the project of OPEC-Russia memorandum to the Organization’s management within the 149th meeting held in Vienna. Russia’s Vice Premier sees definite prospects in the cooperation with OPEC on the fight against the international manipulation of oil prices, and the West is suggested to discuss the issue of energy security and assets’ exchange in the energy sector.

Russia’s economy, despite the world financial crisis and deceleration of growth rates of some world-leading countries, is still accelerating. According to the latest data published by Rosstat (Federal State Statistics Service), in 1H, the country’s GDP grew by 8% in real money terms. Thus, the growth rates were lower in 2Q, than in 1Q – 7,5% against 8,5%.

On Thursday, September, 11, Deutsche Bank and UFG Asset Management (UFG AM) declared that they have inked the agreement on the strategic partnership and business cooperation in Russia. According to the terms of the agreement, Deutsche Bank, through its asset management division, will buy 40% in UFG Invest, Russia’s managing company owned by UFG AM, with the opportunity to increase its stake to 100% in the future.

Gazprom Neft will both buy out 51% in Serbia’s NIS oil monopoly at the state, and 20% of stocks at the minority stockholders – individuals. The assessment of Deloitte & Touche that estimated NIS (Naftna Industrija Srbije) at €2,2 billion should become the basis to determine the price of the agreement. Thus, Gazprom Neft has to pay €428 million more for the deal without getting the additional rights

Domina Hotels Group (DHG) launches the project on the construction of three- and four-star hotel chain for 1 000 rooms estimated at €150 million in Russia. Unlike other western operators, such as Rezidor SAS, Marriott, Hilton, the Italian company will construct hotels independently instead of taking control over them. This strategy will assist DHG in catching up the rivals: the opening of DHG’s hotels will not depend on the financial condition of Russia’ local developers that can suspend the projects because of the expensive loans

Recently, Standard & Poor’s published the report, where the rating agency assessed Russia’s bank system saying that “it became more stable, however, we should make a range of stipulations to state this fact”. Though, despite its “youth”, the Russian bank sector has experienced already three crises, in 1995, 1998 and 2004, and the agency warns that it is too early to speak about the significant changes within the sector. However, this statement doesn’t impede the Russian banks to solve successfully the problems, caused by the world liquidity crisis, due to the support of Russia’s government and the stockholders.

Russia’s National Wealth Fund (NWF) enters the corporate securities market. About 80% of its facilities will be invested in stocks and bonds of the foreign companies mainly, but the Russian organizations will get the stake as well.

Russia’ government funds 15 large economic projects for RUR 82 billion. The majority of these projects will be implemented in the Urals. The regional development minister Dmitry Kozak declared about these plans within the economic forum held in Yakutsk. This city became a temporary Russia’s financial centre.