Sberbank

The CEO of Russia’s top financial institution has called for legal, tax and other changes to diversify the country’s oil-dependent economy.
Barclays, BCS Financial make first appearance on annual ranking of sell-side analysts.
Spurred by the MH17 flight disaster, the EU’s latest round of economic sanctions against Russia are symbolic. But strongly symbolic.
Moscow-based firm bumps crosstown rival Sberbank CIB down a notch to second place.
Russia has its problems, but investors who have recently abandoned the country are missing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Since Russia’s March takeover of Crimea, critics have accused Obama and other Western leaders of ineffectual policy. But the sanctions hit a bull’s-eye.
CEO Gref is turning the savings giant into a universal bank with European ambitions. Shareholders would like to curb his appetite.
Although Russia’s state-owned Gazprom recently signed an agreement to supply China with natural gas, Beijing’s pricing and other demands could scuttle the deal.
Bank pursues alliances with other emerging-markets players in bid to grow its international revenues.
Investors flocked to state-owned Sberbank of Russia’s recent $5.3 billion secondary share sale. But it remains to be seen whether this success will kick-start the country’s long-awaited second wave of privatization.