How To Invest in Russia

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's economy has undergone significant free market reforms. And between 2000 and 2008, the country's nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) doubled, making it a very important emerging market economy.

Despite this tremendous growth, Russia's economy is primarily commodity-driven and carries several risks for international investors. The lack of predictable tax and business legislation has been a significant barrier to private business and investment.

At the same time, the collapse of crude oil and other commodities in 2015 and 2016 put downward pressure on the economy. In this article, we will take a closer look at Russia's economy, benefits, and risks for investors, and the best ways to invest in the emerging market economy.

An Overview of Russia's Economy

Russia is best known among international investors for its energy industry, as a leading exporter of oil and natural gas. But, those investing in Russia are also watching its growing information technology (IT) and telecommunications sectors. In particular, the country's software industry is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world.

The country's recent economic highlights included:

• Gross domestic product (PPP): $1.47 trillion
• GDP growth rate (2021): 4.3%
• GDP per capita (2020): $10,126
• Unemployment rate: 4.3%
• Inflation rate (CPI) (2020): 3.38%

The Benefits and Risks of Investing in Russia

All emerging markets carry an element of risk. Russia's high growth rates may be a bullish sign to investors, but its checkered history makes it riskier than more developed markets. Still, it's hard for international investors to ignore one of the world's hottest commodity markets in the world.

The benefits of investing in Russia include:

• Rich in natural resources: Russia is the world's largest exporter of natural gas, as well as one of the world's largest oil and steel producers.
• Strong emerging industries: Certain niche industries, like information technology and telecommunications, have experienced significant growth.
• Growing middle class: Russia has an enormous population of 142 million citizens with personal incomes that are growing an estimated 10% to 15% each year.

The risks of investing in Russia include:

• Lack of regulation: Russia does not have many safeguards in place to protect investors, especially compared to the U.S. or free market-orientated economy, it still faces a higher level of instability and risk than the U.S.
• Reliance on natural resources: Russia is one of the world's largest energy exporters, which means that its economy is reliant on energy prices. If energy prices take a downturn, it could negatively impact the economy, which happened throughout 2015 and 2016.

The Best Ways to Invest in Russia

There are many different ways to invest in Russia, ranging from U.S.-listed exchange traded funds (ETFs) to securities listed on its own stock exchange, the RTS (Russian Trading System). ETFs represent the easiest way to gain exposure without worrying about the legal and tax implications of American Depository Receipts (ADRs) and domestic securities.

Popular Russian ETFs include:

• The Market Vector Russia ETF Trust (NYSE: RSX)
• The iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund (NYSE: ERUS)
• The SPDR S&P Russia ETF (NYSE: RBL)
• The Market Vectors Russia Small-Cap ETF (NYSE: RSXJ)

Russia's most popular ADRs include:

• Gazprom OAO ADR (OTC: OGZPY)
• Lukoil ADR (OTC: LUKOY)
• Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL)
• OJSC Polyus Gold ADR (OTC: OPYGY)

International investors looking for direct exposure can purchase Russian securities directly using any global trading platform with access to the Russian RTS. The country's most popular stocks are listed on the RTS 50 index, which is the country's equivalent to the S&P 500 in the U.S.