Putin Visits Balkans to Bolster Russia's Energy Role in Southeast Europe

(Bloomberg) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin
meets with leaders of the 10 Balkan countries in Croatia today to
bolster Russia's presence in southeast Europe as the region
becomes a hub for energy transport.

Putin will use the summit to help Russian energy companies,
such as OAO Gazprom, set up new partnerships, buy assets and win
contracts in the region, the Russian presidency said in a
statement. Gazprom, Russia's gas-export monopoly, and Eni SpA,
announced yesterday a plan to build a new gas pipeline linking
Russia to the European Union across the Black Sea and through the
Balkans.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Gazprom Says It Doesn't Plan Any Major U.K. Acquisition, Bid for Centrica

(Bloomberg) -- OAO Gazprom, the world's largest
natural gas company, said it has no plans to make a bid for U.K.
utility Centrica Plc.

Gazprom will announce a purchase in Britain ``in the
nearest future,'' Deputy Chief Executive Officer Alexander
Medvedev said yesterday in St. Petersburg. The acquisition will
by completed in time for the Wimbledon tennis tournament, which
runs from June 25 to July 8, he said.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Russian Stocks Decline for Third Day, Led by Gazprom, Sberbank Shares

(Bloomberg) -- Russian stocks fell for a third day
as rising bond yields weighed on the market. OAO Gazprom and OAO
Sberbank paced the retreat.

The ruble-denominated Micex Index dropped 0.9 percent to
1573.00 at 2:40 p.m. in Moscow. The dollar-denominated RTS Index
lost 1.1 percent to 1783.45.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

OMV-Gazprom deal revives fear of Russia

(Reuters) - A deal signed this week between Russia gas monopoly Gazprom and Austria's OMV revived fears Moscow is tightening its stranglehold over its European customers.

For some, however, the leading gas exporter poses no threat and this accord with a transit country strategically located between eastern and western Europe could improve security of supply.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Russian Indexes Drop Amid Political Concern, IPOs: World's Biggest Mover

(Bloomberg) -- Russian stocks fell after the country
said it won't extradite a murder suspect to Britain, raising
concern that increasing political tensions will discourage
foreign investment.

OAO Gazprom and OAO Unified Energy System led today's
decline. Russia's equity market has also been hurt as initial
public offerings drained investors' cash, according to traders.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News