Markets Rebound As Putin Says Force Would Be Last Resort

An easing of tensions is resulting in world markets improving.

From morning today we’ve seen good demand for liquid shares from foreign hedge-funds and also long-only funds. Oddly enough American investors are also buying,” said Andrei Yarnikh, equity salesman at UBS.

“It looks like Western countries aren’t so intent on introducing sanctions against Russia, and the threat of bringing (Russian) troops into Ukraine has also lessened.”

Markets were cheered initially when Putin ordered the end of large-scale military exercises in Russia, and gained a further boost after his comments at a press conference, his first on the crisis.

Putin slammed Western powers for backing what he called an “armed seizure of power” in Ukraine, but also emphasized that he saw no immediate need for Russian military intervention, which he described as a “last resort”.

He also said Russia was willing to work with Western states and the International Monetary Fund on financial assistance for Ukraine, and cooperate with the new authorities in Kiev although Russia does not regard them as legitimate.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.