Stockmarket – SWIFT BAN

Russia is the European Union's main provider of oil and natural gas,
and finding alternative supplies will not be easy. With energy prices
already soaring, further disruption is something many governments
want to avoid
Companies owed money by Russia would have to find alternative
ways to get paid. The risk of international banking chaos is too
large.

The Russian stock market will be closed to trading until at least next
Wednesday, marking a record in the country's modern history, in a continuing bid to
stave off the impact of global sanctions for domestic investors. The Moscow
Exchange said on Friday that trading across all markets will be shut March 5, 7 and
8.

Eliminating the stock market would likely reduce income inequality between those
who can invest to grow their wealth and those who cannot. A country without a
stock market might have more even income levels between classes but an overall
weaker economy with fewer major corporations.

The main cause of the Wall Street crash of 1929 was the long period of
speculation that preceded it, during which millions of people invested their savings
or borrowed money to buy stocks, pushing prices to unsustainable levels.

 The pan-European Stoxx 600 index provisionally closed

down 1.4%, having initially traded higher at the start of
the session.

 A U.S. official said Moscow has compiled lists of

Ukrainians to target after an invasion, NBC News
reported.

 Purchasing managers’ index figures in the euro zone

and U.K. came in at multi-month highs.

U.S. President Joe Biden has accepted “in principle” a

meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, paving the
way for last-ditch diplomatic efforts to avert an invasion of
Ukraine by Russian forces.