Bogdan Preda in Bucharest
Thu, 11th Mar -- It all looks pretty positive in comparison to Greece: Romania got another two instalments totalling €2.3bn from the IMF at the end of February, pushing the central bank's reserves to an all-time high of almost €30bn. But IMF cash won't be the miracle cure to pull the country out of the crisis.

Iana Dreyer of the European Centre for International Political Economy
Wed, 3rd Mar -- There is a clear link between most CEE gas markets still being monopolies and Europe's vulnerability to decisions by Gazprom to turn off the gas tap. A few antitrust cases in the new member states would go a long way toward remedying this.

Gunter Deuber and Nicolaus Heinen of DB Research
Fri, 26th Feb -- An enlargement of the euro area is drawing nearer. A long way ahead of all the other candidates, Estonia has a good chance of becoming the 17th country to join the Eurozone. The question is only whether it can already do so in 2011.

bne
Thu, 18th Feb -- Ahead of the European Commission's report into CEZ's alleged anti-competitive practices, Candole Partners has published a report that analyses the structure of the Czech electricity market, and in doing so dispels some myths it claims are perpetuated by the utility's supporters in politics, the media and financial circles.

bne
Thu, 11th Feb -- The Kremlin has launched a charm offensive to counter the Russia-bashing that has dominated the international coverage of Russia since Vladimir Putin took power in 2000.

Turbat Munkhsuren of Eurasia Capital
Wed, 10th Feb -- Mongolian Prime Minister Batbold has confirmed that the government's preference is to retain 100% ownership of the massive Tavan Tolgoi coking coal project and use a "mining contractor" model, putting the international tender for an equity stake in the project in doubt.

Angelika Henkel of Alfa Bank
Mon, 8th Feb -- Russian IPOs and SPOs are likely to pick up in 2010 on the back of the recovery on global and Russian equity markets. Announced and rumoured transactions point to equity issues of around $10bn-12bn.

Eric Heymann of Deutsche Bank Research
Mon, 25th Jan -- Although the global automotive sector has in recent months emerged from its trough, the expiry of support measures together with the overcapacities in the sector suggest that further difficulties will materialise in 2010 and beyond.

bne
Thu, 21st Jan -- A mafia-like cartel is accused of wielding enormous political and economic influence away from the public eye and has been the hidden force behind a string of scandals that has rocked Croatia in recent months. And the head is alleged to be none other than one-time PM Ivo Sanader.

Roland Nash of Renaissance Capital
Wed, 16th Dec -- Mongolia is a country on the point of transformation. As its copper, coal, gold and uranium reserves are brought to market, Mongolia stands a good chance of becoming the fastest-growing economy in the world over the next decade.

bne
Fri, 11th Dec -- "Azerbaijan will be the success story of the 21st century and the new Singapore." These were the opening remarks in the presentation of AFB Bank at the first ever Azerbaijan investment summit in London in December.

Bogdan Preda in Bucharest
Wed, 9th Dec -- Romanians re-elected President Traian Basescu for a new five-year term December 6 after the dirtiest and most intense electoral campaign this country has seen since it broke with communism 20 years ago. Now, Romanians are back to square one, with a minority government and the same president, only there's less money around.