Russian loan market freezes up despite $500m Uralkali deal

An imminent signing of a $500m loan by Uralkali, the world’s largest potash producer, has not convinced bankers that Russia’s frozen international loan markets is anywhere near thawing out The virtual closure of Russia’s international loans market in the wake of its annexation of Crimea in March looks unlikely to lift despite the imminent signing of a $500m deal by a leading commodity producer.