Russia stays strong with market optimistic on Ukraine outcome

Russian assets held firm on Friday in advance of Ukraine’s parliamentary elections on Sunday. Rather than take profit from an impressive week-long rally that has left Russian bonds hovering close to where they were before the Crimea crisis began in February, investors have bet on a market friendly outcome from the Ukraine vote. A resounding win for frontrunner Petro Poroshenko could allow Russian bonds to start closing in on levels last seen in January, said debt bankers.