... Vladimir Putin signed a decree legalizing the use of digital currencies in international settlements and in the currency market within an experimental legal framework. In 2025, regulators took the next step: the largest trading platform in the country, the Moscow Exchange (MOEX), announced the launch of a new derivative instrument — futures contracts on a fund tracking Ethereum (ETF Trust ETHA) effective August 5. Settlements for these futures will be in rubles, with quotes in dollars per share of the ...

... bonds (OFZ) have declined confidently, boosting their price and attractiveness for investors. The Russian stock market by the end of July was moving without a clearly defined trend, but the domestic backdrop is assessed as stable and favorable. The Moscow Exchange Index is consolidating near the 2850-point mark, approximately at the level of a week ago. Rate cuts support shares of companies oriented towards domestic demand (banks, developers, retailers), due to the prospects of lower credit costs ...

... rate cuts if current trends persist. Markets reacted ambiguously to the CBR's bold decision. Bonds saw an influx of buyers: OFZ yields fell on expectations of cheaper funding, increasing the attractiveness of government debt. However, stocks on the Moscow Exchange showed mixed dynamics throughout the day—several rate-sensitive sectors (such as energy and consumer sectors) received a boost, while bank stocks declined due to expectations of shrinking interest margins. Consequently, by the end of ...

... NATO bases in Europe for collective security. In general, although the size of the US arsenal is gradually decreasing, it remains one of the most modern and reliable in terms of technological level and readiness. Notably: Despite political tensions, Moscow and Washington currently comply with the quantitative limits of the New START treaty (no more than 1,550 deployed strategic warheads for each side). However, the current term of this last major arms control agreement expires in 2026. The absence ...

... attention to on the exchanges. Macroeconomic Events Central to the day are macroeconomic publications that could set the tone for trading on the US stock exchange and worldwide. In the morning, several data releases from the US will come out: at 15:15 Moscow time, the ADP employment report for the private sector is expected, which may show a recovery in job growth after a weak June (forecasts suggest around 80,000 to 100,000 new jobs). Shortly thereafter, at 15:30 MSK, investors will learn the preliminary ...