zlacker

>>colone+(OP)
A company makes a smart decision to pause sales in order to ensure they're not selling their products at a loss due to the drop on the value of rubies....

One shouldn't expect otherwise.

>>mikhai+Y1
Apple could purchase FX swaps and charge customers a "FX fluctuation surcharge". That's better than shutting down the store...

>>acchow+64
That presumes they have some idea of the short-term forward volatility of the rubble, which no one does right now. Otherwise they have no idea what the surcharge ought to be.

Furthermore, setting up such things is not cost-free, and if the high-volatility situation is temporary (which is very likely) it could well be that it isn't worth the cost, complexity and risk.

>>tjradc+O4
That presumes they have some idea of the short-term forward volatility of the rubble

My guess is that your typo isn't too far from the truth. Everything we've seen lately with regard to falling oil prices is geared towards attacking the Putin regime. Eventually the Russian people will find themselves living in a North Korean-style pariah state... or else they'll wake up and take drastic action to keep that from happening. Either way the medium-term outlook for the ruble is pretty much toast.

>>Camper+4b
Or maybe Putin is popular enough to survive changing course in Ukraine before the economy is completely trashed. Also do you have a source that oil prices are being manipulated to punish Putin? Seems likely but I haven't seen anything.

>>happys+Zd
I've also seen it suggested that the oil price drop is a "stealth" sanction against Russia, but I don't follow the logic. Why do the Saudis want to sanction Russia? Unless one presumes some unspecified quid-pro-quo conspiracy between the US and the Saudis, I don't see it. I thrink driving the volatility up like this slows the investment rate in US shale oil significantly, and that's what the Saudis are doing.

>>semi-e+ti
Russia supports Bachar's regime. Bachar blocks Qatar's & Saudi oil/gas pipe from passing through Syria towards European market. Europe remains dependent on Russian gas(30%) and oil for another round. Saudis get angry and want to topple Bachar. Russia says no way. Saudis kick Russia in the groin economically by raising the oil production. Now it makes sense ? (lower oil price combined with other EU & US sanctions bring Russia on the brink of collapse: EU, US & Saudis high five furiously)