Central bank: Foreign investors interested in Russian Eurobonds

MOSCOW, Mar 18 (PRIME) -- The central bank believes that foreign investors are interested in Russian assets, and the country can sell Eurobonds despite Western governments’ recommendation to their banks to abstain from the issue, regulator’s Chairwoman Elvira Nabiullina told reporters on Friday.

“As for recommendations not to participate in placement of Russian sovereign bonds, made by a range of governments, there are other markets too. I hope that we can use opportunities of other markets,” she said.

The Finance Ministry may also raise funding on the national market, which has a quite big potential, Nabiullina said.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said that Russia will do all planned external borrowing despite the restrictions.

Russia’s 2016 state budget envisages borrowing up to U.S. $3 billon abroad. In February, the Finance Ministry sent requests to 25 foreign banks and three national ones to organize the placement of Eurobonds in 2016.

On Monday, the Financial Times reported citing sources that Brussels urged European banks to steer clear of the bond. Previously, a similar warning was sent to U.S. banks by the country’s authorities.

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