ROSNEFT SALE LIKELY TO BE CANCELED.

First Deputy Fuel and Energy Minister Viktor Ott called on the government yesterday to postpone its auction of Rosneft, Russia’s largest oil company still in state ownership. (Itar-Tass, September 8) The government is currently making its second attempt to sell 75 percent plus one share of the company. It has set October 27 as the deadline for bids of US$1.6 billion or higher. Ott said that, in view of Russia’s economic turmoil, the auction should be postponed for at least a year.

TATARSTAN SUSPENDS PAYMENTS TO FEDERAL BUDGET.