Russian equities down 30%, the rouble at an all-time low

The MOEX stock index is denominated in roubles. The dollar-denominated RTS was down 27.3 %, while IMOEX was down 27.3 %. IRTS has dropped by almost 34%. Both were on track to have their worst single-day percentage declines ever. After the Russian military struck Ukraine on Thursday, the rouble fell to a new low and emerging market equities were set to have their worst day in two years.

Special Military Operation

Officials and media said that Russia launched missiles at numerous Ukrainian cities and landed soldiers on the country’s shore after President Vladimir Putin authorized a “special military operation” in the east. After the Moscow Exchange removed a temporary trading restriction imposed earlier in the day. The rouble RUB fell about 8% to a record low of 89.99 versus the dollar.

The 10-year benchmark bond yields RU10YT RR hit a new high of 10.96 %, the highest since early 2016. The MSCI Developing Markets Index is a measure of the performance of equities in emerging markets. MISCHIEF was down 3.7 % at the time of writing, its lowest level since March 2020.

IRTS has dropped by almost 34%. Also, both were on track to have their worst single-day percentage declines ever. Ukraine banned its airspace to civilian planes on Thursday, claiming a significant danger of safety, while Russia has halted commercial vessel movement in the Azov Sea until further notice.

According to US President Joe Biden, the US and its allies would slap “serious sanctions” on Russia. “History implies that military attacks and geopolitical events of this nature will fade away if there is no substantial global economic impact,” says the author said Vasu Menon, executive director of investment strategy at OCBC in Singapore.