Putin allows Western investors to sell Russian shares

Vladimir Putin has allowed some Western investors, including Jane Street, GMO, and Franklin Templeton, to sell Russian shares. This decision comes ahead of his talks with Donald Trump about a potential ceasefire. The decree permits these investors to offload their holdings to a U.S. hedge fund, 683 Capital Partners, which can then trade with Russian investment funds without further approvals. Previously, international investors faced strict bans on trading Russian securities. Since the start of the Ukraine invasion in 2022, Western investors have struggled to sell their Russian assets due to sanctions and restrictions. The Russian rouble has strengthened this year, and stocks have risen amid speculation of potential easing of U.S. sanctions.