BUSINESS

CASH-FOR-CLUNKERS DRAWS SCEPTICISM

MOSCOW — Russia’s “cash-for-clunkers” program, which began on Monday, may fall short in its goal of boosting new-car sales because of bureaucratic red tape and corruption, dealers and analysts said.

The government will offer 200,000 vouchers worth 50,000 ...

RUSSIA CONSIDERS COMMON CURRENCY

MOSCOW — Russia may scrap the ruble and introduce a common currency with Belarus and Kazakhstan as the nations broaden their alliance and seek to reduce ...

KUDRIN OPPOSES 6.3% PENSION INCREASES

The government will increase pensions by 6.3 percent next month despite warnings from Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin on Thursday that the budget cannot afford it.

“We have the means, and I think the decision to increase pensions will not affect the macroeconomic ...

GEORGIA HOPES FOR RESTORAL OF DIRECT FLIGHTS TO RUSSIA

TBILISI — The Georgian Foreign Ministry would “welcome” a resumption of direct air links with Russia after a border crossing was opened between the two ...

In Brief

IT Market to Grow

MOSCOW (Bloomberg) — Russia’s information technology market may expand 15 percent this year, helped by higher sales of computers and software, said Nikolai Pryanishnikov, president for Microsoft in Russia.

The Russian market may rebound this year from a decline in 2009, ...