The week ending March 2 saw passive investment in Russian equity funds grow by $19.4 million, while active investment grew by $30.1 million, for a total of $49.5 million. The week ending March 9, meanwhile, saw passive funds associated with Russia attract $156.2 million, and active investment grow by $21.3 million (for a total of $177.5 million).
"The last time Russia saw such an influx was a year ago, against the backdrop of the conclusion of the Minsk agreements [on peace in Ukraine]," Expert noted, citing Sberbank CIB, the Moscow-based investment banking and asset management firm.
Data compiled by the business news agency showed that "on a risk-adjusted basis, Russian equities have risen the most this year among the top 10 markets represented in MSCI Inc.'s developing-nation stock gauge."
Commenting on the analysis, Expert suggested that "it seems that foreign investors believe in the further growth of oil prices, or at least that they will not fall again, despite the fact that prices have risen nearly 50% from their January lows." International investment firms including Goldman Sachs, the magazine added, have speculated that a balance between supply and demand on the oil market is being restored, even if the firm's experts do not predict prices higher than $45 dollars a barrel, at least in the second quarter of 2016.
"A new wave of demand for more risk-laden assets is evidenced by the fact that the flows are going not just to Russia, but to emerging market funds in general; in the past week, they have attracted $1.7 billion – the largest inflow since summer 2015," the magazine concluded.
