The main events by the morning: April 27

• A new attack on Russian refineries: drones attacked a plant in the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation. As a result of the attack, the separation unit at the Slavyansk refinery caught fire, and the distillation column was also damaged. It is too early for consumers to worry: fuel production in April decreased by 0.6%, diesel fuel – by 1.5%. At the same time, supplies to the domestic market increased by 7% due to a reduction in exports. 

• The State Duma proposed to ban the organization of cryptocurrency circulation in Russia. An exception is provided only for miners of digital currencies and test projects of the Central Bank under the experimental legal regime (EPR). In addition, the updated bill prohibits advertising of digital currencies and advertising of the organization of the use of digital currencies.

• The American Republic First Bank came under the control of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), becoming the first bank collapse in the United States in 2024. All deposits and almost all assets of the bank have been repurchased to protect depositors, Republic First Bank branches will open as branches of Fulton Bank, and depositors will be able to receive their money through ATMs, debit cards or checks.

• Chinese authorities are considering paying up to $1,400 to citizens for switching to electric vehicles with internal combustion engines. However, similar payments will also be available when buying traditional cars with engines of less than 2 liters – the state plans to pay $1,000 for this.

• According to the forecast of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, inflation will decrease to 4% by December 2025. The agency expects that in June of this year, annual inflation will slow down from 7.7% to 6.9%, and in September it will decrease to 5.8%. At the same time, the Bank of Russia, despite the deterioration in the inflation forecast, foresees more favorable indicators: it is expected to reach the level of 5% by the end of this year and 4% next year.