Posted on 12/16/2014 5:42:31 PM PST by Kartographer
As Zero Hedge first reported today, shortly before noon one (and subsequently more) FX brokers advised clients that any existing Ruble positions would be forcibly closed out because "western banks have stopped pricing USDRUB", over concerns of Russian capital controls. Ironically, it was this forced liquidation of mostly short RUB positions that pushed the RUB higher, which in turn had a briefly favorably impact on energy commodities and risk assets, as the market had by then perceived the Ruble selloff as excessive. Of course, since nothing had actually changed aside from a temporary market technical, the selloff promptly resumed into the close of trading once the market finally understood what we had explained hours previously.
And unfortunately for the bulls, various falling knife-catchers, and those who hope the Russian situation will stabilize imminently with or without capital controls, it appears things in Russia are about to get a whole lot worse because as the WSJ reports, the next driver of the Russian crisis is likely to come from within the banking system itself because "global banks are curtailing the flow of cash to Russian entities, a response to the ruble’s sharpest selloff since the 1998 financial crisis."
(Excerpt) Read more at zerohedge.com ...
“Yep. This will be the trigger. Expect Putin to skip over ukraine and shoot for poland. His time is up so he will start settling old scores. He knows it over and his ego will not let him go quietly. And we are stuck with dumbass obama and kerry. We won’t come out of this alive. Probably why we are not mentioned in end times prophecy. Expect a sneak nuclear attack by the ruskies within the next three months. They will launch everything they have at us.”
Hey man, we all kinda miss the cold war. Century series fighters with polished aluminum finishes, Navy ships colliding in the middle of nowhere with Russian ships, No women commanders, duck and cover, Fulda gap, Russian trawlers, No homos, B-58 hustlers, tactical nukes, REFORGER, C-rations, Steel pots,,,,, ahhhhh,,, and the F-4 Phantom and Battleships,, etc,,,,
But you need to let go, this really isn’t good for ya,,,
Taleb?
Russia's annexation of Crimea was a defensive move to keep its long-held, strategic - and sole - warm water port and naval base from falling into NATO's hands after the West overthrew Moscow's ally in Kiev. Securing a defensible land bridge from Russia to Crimea was the obvious next step which Ray Charles could see coming. And NATO has been provoking Russia for two decades by adding 12 new nations in its eastward expansion to the Russian border. Finally, Russia had absolutely no motive whatsoever to shoot down the airliner over Ukraine; Kiev was the only party that stood to benefit from the atrocity, which reeks of an obvious setup by the Ukrainians.
Russia is no longer a superpower save for its nuclear arsenal. That puke Putin must learn that there are consequences for his actions.
What greater measure of a military superpower exists than the world's largest nuclear arsenal? That's like saying "Darren Wilson is no match for Michael Brown without a .40 Sig P229." Well, Wilson did have the .40 Sig and he used it to kill the much larger and conventionally stronger Brown. If you pick a fight, all bets are off.
Putin will not invade Poland. He will not because Russia has no cash to support an invasiin and Poland is a member of NATO and if his army steps foot in Poland, he will get nuked or every member of NATO would be occupying Moscow in a matter of weeks.
What is and isn’t ones business is an odd thing.
A strange man assaulting a strange woman in front of you is no more your business than what happens in Ukraine, and yet doing nothing doesn’t seem quite right.
We have made the same mistake with Russia after Cold War I, as we did with Germany after World War I. Only this time the Hitler has nukes.
Your contention is that Obama would launch a nuclear first strike on Russia?
Very excellent comments.
“Your contention is that Obama would launch a nuclear first strike on Russia?”
I don’t think Able Archer was done for no reason and it has been understood that NATO would go nuclear if a member were invaded by the Soviets/Russians.
They always go after poland. Nato is weak. Obama will dither. Kerry will bluster. But not fight. Without us taking the lead, europe will do the same. The public has no apitite for war here or in europe. Poland will bit by bit be annexxed.
BS. The Russians had a long term agreement on its naval base in Crimea. The Kharkiv Pact, signed in 2010, guaranteed them use of the base until 2042. The Russians unilaterally terminated the agreement in 2014.
And NATO has been provoking Russia for two decades by adding 12 new nations in its eastward expansion to the Russian border.
A provocation? What danger does NATO pose to Russia? And those 12 nations and there are more, begged to get into NATO because they did not want to come under Russian imperialism again. I lived two years in Poland during the days of Solidarnosc and the oppression of Communism. I went back about 14 years ago and Poland is a much better place. They have been liberated.
There is no moral equivalency between Russia and the NATO nations.
Finally, Russia had absolutely no motive whatsoever to shoot down the airliner over Ukraine; Kiev was the only party that stood to benefit from the atrocity, which reeks of an obvious setup by the Ukrainians.
More BS. I don't see how you can buy into that Russian propaganda. The facts say otherwise. It was a mistake, but the plane was shot down by the Russians along with other Ukrainian planes that have been shot down by the Russians.
What greater measure of a military superpower exists than the world's largest nuclear arsenal? That's like saying "Darren Wilson is no match for Michael Brown without a .40 Sig P229." Well, Wilson did have the .40 Sig and he used it to kill the much larger and conventionally stronger Brown. If you pick a fight, all bets are off.
MAD. The Russians do not want to commit national suicide any more than they did during the Cold War. Having a huge nuclear arsenal and a relative weak conventional force does not allow them to project power globally. They are a gas station masquerading as a nation. Putin is delusional. He is trying to resurrect an empire that no longer exists.
Russia has negative population growth; life expectancy for males is 64 years; a fertility rate of 1.61; a per capita GDP of $18,100; and oil and gas represent two thirds of their revenue. Economic power is also a measure of a superpower and Russia's economy is about to descend into the toilet.
What is and isn’t ones business is an odd thing.
You are right, but pushing through the crowd that surrounds her before they can react is odd too.
Glad Putin put the Cold War behind him, and became a decent Christian man.
No missiles targeting every major American city or military complex to settle things once and for all....
“If Reagan was in office, right about now he would call Putin and tell him he is either out of Ukraine and Crimea in 24 hours or the US is going to grant more oil leases and fast track Keystone.”
Stop it! You’re making me cry for the America that once was!
Putin would not even be able to feed his army.
Interesting they do have designs on the Middle East and Iran flush with thumbing their nose at the Americans will hook up with the Russian bear for a little score settling...don’t count the Russians out as America being its weakest since the 1930’s is in no position to fight much...or political will for that matter.
Well he could do like the old Soviet army did in WW2, live off the conquered lands...
“Actually it is none of our business.”
On the contrary, the United States is obligated to confront the Russian aggressions in accordance with the United Nations Charter, the responsibilities of a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, the responsibility of a signatory to the Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928, the responsibilities for implementing the Budapest Memorandum 1934, and the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances 1994.
So we are going to stand by and let Poland be overran again?
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