http://russia-insider.com/ru/politics_bu...02/17/3590
Quote:Cut off from Western capital markets, Russia is stepping up efforts to tap into the huge pools of capital in the Middle East by issuing Islam's answer to bonds, sukuk, which are not subject to Western sanctions.
Sukuk are especially attractive for Russia following its downgrade to junk status by rating agency Standard & Poor's in January. As the bonds are asset backed, the quality of those assets will be more important to potential investors than Russia's sovereign rating.
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