As Russia continues to grapple with low oil prices and Western sanctions, the government's structural reforms and privatisation plans are designed to kick-start growth and balance the budget deficit. But is the time right to sell state assets? Stefanie Linhardt investigates.

In two years, Otkritie FC Bank’s Konstantin Tserazov has transformed its investment business through a three-way split between its bond portfolio, repurchase agreements and derivatives. Now, he tells Stefanie Linhardt, he intends to diversify the Russia-focused bank even further.

Riccardo Orcel, the head of global banking at VTB Capital, speaks to Stefanie Linhardt about cultivating the bank’s domestic Russian operation and taking an idiosyncratic approach to growing business in global markets. 

While most large Russian banks have managed to hold onto their position relative to each other, they have all suffered significant falls in Tier 1 capital and profits as they find themselves challenged by currency depreciation and difficult market conditions. Written by Matthew Karwacki, research by Valeria Yakutovich.

A bold new digital strategy is transforming Russian lender Sberbank, creating new efficiencies, boosting revenues and customer numbers, and protecting the Russian institution's majority market share.

Russian lender Tinkoff has fared better than most of its peers during the uncertainty that has engulfed the country's economy in the past 12 months, thanks in no small part to a wide portfolio of products, which take in debit and credit cards, insurance, mortgages and SME servicing. 

Private equity investment in central and eastern Europe could be set to increase as investors look to capture the region’s potential as its economies return to growth.