|                                                                                                                                                                                     |  | Following the Crisis: Sources of Information on the Internet                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
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|**BISNISHome PageSearchBISNISEmbassyReportsCountryReportsIndustryReportsCustomsCornerPublicationsSourcesof FinanceFinanceLinkLeadsand EventsExchangeRatesState ExportsOtherSources** |  | November 1998by Philip H. de LeonThe August 17 eruption of the financial crisis in Russia  has triggered an increased need and
demand for timely information on developments in Russia.  Knowing where to get such
information is a key asset for properly assessing the situation and evaluating  the soundness of
commercial projects and financial investments. A range of useful information is available on the
World Wide Web or via e-mail.Below is a selection of those resources that have proven to be useful in following the evolution of
events in Russia.  Some sources provide information for free, while others charge a fee. 
Resources that charge for access to information are indicated by an asterisk (*).Exchange RatesBloomberg: [www.bloomberg.com/markets/currency.html]Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (MICEX):  [www.micex.ru]News AgenciesInterfax News Agency:  daily financial and business reports, weekly banking and finance
report, and the Interfax-100, a list of the top 100 Russian banks.  [www.interfax-news.com]*ITAR-TASS- Information-Telegraph Agency of Russia:  text, photo and graphic
information in Russian and English.  
[www.itar-tass.com/itar-tass.htm]*Novosti: Russian-language political, economic and legislative news.
[www.novosti.ru]*Reuters: world news and market quotes from around the world. 
[www.reuters.com/news]*Russia Today: includes Reuters articles on Russia.  [www.russiatoday.com]Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty: information not usually found in the printed media of
other agencies.  [www.rferl.org]Federal News Service: verbatim same-day transcripts of statements from Russian political
and economic leaders. [www.fnsg.com]*Rating Agencies
  The following four rating agencies publish reports on the banking situation and fact sheets on
major banks:Thomson BankWatch: [www.bankwatch.com]*Moody's: [www.moodys.com]*Standard & Poor's: [www.standardandpoors.com]*Fitch IBCA: [www.fitchibca.com]*Professional PublicationsRussia Portfolio: events that have an impact on the Russian securities market. 
[www.gipinc.com]*Newsletters of investment banks are also very informative, e.g., SBC Warburg Dillon
Read's publication on emerging markets or Alfa Capital's Daily Fix sent via e-mail.
[www.wdr.com]*; [www.acapital.ru]*Other SourcesU.S. Embassy in Moscow:  precise summaries of all economic and financial developments
for the past week or two.  [www.mac.doc.gov/bisnis/cables/cable.htm]American Chamber of Commerce in Russia: practical advice on how to conduct business
and cope with the present crisis.  [www.amcham.ru]Institute for EastWest Studies (IEWS): Russian Regional Report (RRR) gives a broad
overview of what is happening in Russia's regions.  [www.iews.org]*For more information on developments in Russia, visit BISNIS OnLine at
www.mac.doc.gov/bisnis/country/rusfed.htm.Philip de Leon is the BISNIS Finance/Banking Specialist in Washington, D.C.This report is provided courtesy of the Business Information Service for the
Newly Independent States (BISNIS)