The Moscow Exchange Index (IMOEX) has recorded its 18th consecutive week of declines, marking the longest losing streak for the Russian benchmark since the financial crisis of 1997.
The sustained sell-off has wiped out approximately ten years of cumulative market growth in a matter of months, reflecting deepening investor pessimism about the Russian economy’s trajectory.
According to reports from Aktuality.sk, the market turmoil is compounded by allegations that individuals close to Vladimir Putin are quietly transferring capital out of the country.
The source claims these moves are driven by fears that Western sanctions or domestic legal actions could lead to the seizure of their assets.
This narrative of elite capital flight adds a layer of political risk to the already fragile financial environment.
The equity downturn is occurring against a backdrop of severe structural stress in the Russian banking sector.