For the first time in six months, Russian stocks gained for a fifth consecutive day, as the price of oil rose above $84 a barrel. Other markets also gained, with Turkey’s ISE 100 at an all-time record and the Polish WIG20 extending its two-year high.

The Hungarian forint was the region’s best-performing currency – leaping nearly 3 per cent in value against the dollar, as investors display their confidence in the Orban administration. The Turkish lira reached a near-two-year high against the greenback. Continue reading »

There’s no stranger link between the developed world and an emerging economy than Norman Wisdom, the British comic actor who has died at the age of 95.

Wisdom is a fondly-remembered figure in his own country. But in Albania he is a cult hero whose death on Monday made the news on all Tirana’s main television channels. Continue reading »

Indonesian stocks extended their all-time high on Tuesday, after the central bank held interest rates at a record low of 6.5 per cent. However, in India, where authorities said they are considering responses to foreign inflows, financials led equities lower.

Elsewhere, Japanese and Chinese leaders pledged further high-level talks, with Japan’s trade minister reiteratingconcerns over rare-earth exports. Chinese markets were shut for a holiday, but Hong Kong stocks added marginally to a ten-month high. Continue reading »

* Brazil raises tax on foreign inflows to 4 per cent

* Convergence moves apace for broadcasters, telecoms

* Hendry plots path to go short on China

* EU voices China currency concerns

* Satyam: CBI plans to grill Ramalinga Raju today Continue reading »