Wherever Russia lands on the tax cut issue, the move could affect Market Vectors Russia (RSX). The fund is down 5.3% year-to-date, but is up less than 1% in trading today.
Meanwhile, Putin and Bush have sat down negotiating a strategic framework for relations for both nations, even once both presidents have left office. The missile defense deal assures the Russians the European military threat is not aimed at them, reports Robert Burns for Associated Press. Apparently suspicions and old fears regarding missile defense are still a factor, so both presidents must work together to resolve this.
A key pledge is that the United States won’t activate new sites in Poland and the Czech Republic unless Iran proves to be an imminent threat to Europe.
For full disclosure, some of Tom Lydon’s clients own shares of RSX.