Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RAW.F)
- Reuters
Russia expects Raiffeisen, UniCredit subsidiaries to help launch digital rouble
Austria's RBI and Italy's UniCredit are two of Russia's 13 systemically important banks but they are also under pressure from the European Central Bank to cut their exposure to Russia. Russia has been piloting a digital rouble and plans to begin mass implementation on July 1, 2025.
- Reuters
Impending expiry of U.S. sanctions licence threatens Russia's yuan liquidity
The impending expiry of a U.S. licence permitting transactions involving the pillars of Russia's financial infrastructure could make it harder and costlier for Russian businesses to deal in Chinese yuan, sources engaged in imports and payments told Reuters. The yuan, which hit a near-one-year high against the rouble on Wednesday, has become the most traded foreign currency in Moscow since Russia's decision to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022 sparked sweeping Western sanctions and a ramping-up of Russia's de-dollarisation policy. With Chinese banks wary of the secondary sanctions risks of dealing with Russian entities blacklisted by Washington, and the Bank of Russia reluctant to continue pumping in yuan liquidity through FX swaps, some importers fear that payment issues between Russia and China could worsen.
- Reuters
Austria's RBI sells Belarus bank at a loss to UAE investor
BERLIN (Reuters) -Raiffeisen Bank International said on Friday it is selling its Belarus business at a loss to an investor from the United Arab Emirates, as the Austrian lender faces mounting pressure to also pare back its Russian arm. RBI has vowed to spin off its Russian business, which has provided a payment lifeline to hundreds of companies there, after pressure from international regulators on the biggest Western bank in remaining in the country. But more than two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, little has changed.
