Investment spending in Russia on the up

Russian GDP is forecast to grow strongly this year, investment spending and oil prices have been strong and consumer demand and wage growth have been increasing. Rosy as this picture looks, Russia is not without its problems. The divide between the rich and the poor is increasing, there are concerns over inflation and the banking system is in need of development. But as ever, it is politics which provides both the biggest opportunities and the worst threats to the country's future. In particular, there are concerns over the sluggishness of President Putin's political reform programme;...