Today in Russian Business – Oct 22, 2010

Former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov is not optimistic about the government’s privatization plan, anticipating that a lack of transparency will ‘raise a lot of questions‘ about prices, as Economic Development Minister Elvira Nabiullina says that privatization is going to accelerate in coming years – to $10 billion dollars a year.  Norilsk Nickel’s shareholders have voted to keep their current board of directors: ‘The vote dealt a blow to Oleg Deripaska’s ambitions to get more control over Norilsk and its cash flows, but looks sure to drag out months of wrangling between him and rival Vladimir Potanin.‘  VTB, one of the company’s minority shareholders, says it was part of the 38% who voted for re-election of the board.  The WSJ reports on the ruble’s new low: ‘Until…investors become more confident that growth and fiscal performance will remain stable and not vulnerable to collapse, the ruble looks set to remain the unwanted orphan in its asset class.‘