The increase in deposits of individuals in Russian banks amounted to 2.3% in February of this year. Such data was released today by First Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank Gennady Melikyan. At the same time, he clarified that this data includes Sberbank, but does not take into account exchange rate differences. G. Melikyan recalled that in the first month of the year the increase in deposits was 0.2%, in March the increase in deposits is expected to be about 2%.

Net profit of the Italian banking group UniCredit for 2009 decreased by 57.6% - to 1.7 billion euros - against the comparative figure a year earlier in the amount of 4 billion euros. Such data is contained in a report released today by the largest bank in Italy by assets. Despite the reduction by more than half, UniCredit's annual profit was higher than analysts' forecasts, who expected this figure at 1.57 billion euros. At the same time, according to the results of the fourth quarter of 2009.

In St. Petersburg, the day before, unknown intruders entered the apartment of the head of the department of a city drug treatment hospital. As law enforcement agencies told RBC, the damage caused to the victim amounted to about 7 million 500 thousand rubles. Thus, 2 million 900 thousand rubles, 3 thousand 550 dollars, 3 thousand 900 euros, 300 pounds sterling and jewelry were stolen.

Spanish Sevilla forward Alvaro Negredo said after the match with CSKA that the enemy secured success thanks to well-coordinated work and a clear plan. The Spanish player noted that the army team “played very well, calmly and without nerves.” According to A. Negredo, the enemy acted most successfully during counterattacks, which allowed him to gain the upper hand in the battle.

The day before, trading in the US ended with growth, oil prices rose noticeably. The external background for the start of trading on the Russian market on Wednesday, March 17, is positive. The day before, trading in the US ended with growth, oil prices rose noticeably. On Wednesday, the growth of oil futures and indices continued. Prices on the metal market are rising. All this was supported by Asian traders, and now it is Russia’s turn to open with a gap up.

The Commissioner for Children's Rights of the Russian Federation Pavel Astakhov met in Turku (Finland) with the parents of 7-year-old Robert Rantala. This was reported by the press service of the Commissioner for Children's Rights. According to P. Astakhov, there are problems in the family, but he believes that R. Rantala’s parents should be given a second chance, and is ready to act as a guarantor that there has not been and will not be any violation of rights and violence against the boy.

The situation surrounding the accident on Gagarin Square in Moscow involving a LUKOIL car did not affect the company’s image, says LUKOIL President Vagit Alekperov. According to him, this is “a tragedy that could happen to anyone.” “There must be an objective investigation into what happened. We all empathize. The company offered condolences to the relatives of the victims,” V. Alekperov told reporters.

It is possible that the Ukrainian government will soon consolidate the country’s non-aligned status at the legislative level. At the same time, without joining NATO, Ukraine will still maintain constructive cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This is stated in the published agreement on the creation of the Stability and Reforms parliamentary coalition.

Russia's largest oil exporter, OJSC NK Rosneft, faces interruptions in oil sales due to court orders in the US and UK related to the Yukos case. The orders effectively make payments to the company in US dollars impossible, Reuters reported, citing several traders and industry sources. “There are regulations that do not allow payments to be made in favor of Rosneft. This applies to companies registered in the UK and the USA.

In St. Petersburg, two criminals in an Audi drove up to an unemployed woman and stole her bag with 3.1 million rubles, a bank card and documents. As reported by city law enforcement agencies, the criminals, trying to escape, hit a woman with their car. The woman received minor injuries and was released home after receiving medical care. The search for criminals is underway.

The Vasileostrovsky Court of St. Petersburg rendered a verdict in the case of mass poisoning of visitors to the Waterville water park in 2008. The defendant Vyacheslav Kuksov, who at the time of the incident held the position of head of the technical department of the park, was sentenced to a fine of 70 thousand rubles. The Vasileostrovsky Court of St. Petersburg rendered a verdict in the case of mass poisoning of visitors to the Waterville water park in 2008.

The Main Investigation Department of the Main Internal Affairs Directorate for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region opened a criminal case against the managers of Mashinostroitelny Zavod CJSC. According to the press service of the city prosecutor's office, the company is suspected of evading personal income tax, as a result of which the state suffered damage amounting to about 7 million rubles.

Industrial production in the Russian Federation in January-February 2010. compared to January-February 2009 increased by 5.8%, reported the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat). At the same time, in February industrial production increased year-on-year by 1.9% compared to January 2010. - by 4.8%.

Cargo turnover of the port of Primorsk (Leningrad region) in January-February 2010 decreased by 6% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 11 million 918.9 tons. As reported in the port materials, ship turnover during the reporting period reached 299 units (149 entries and 150 exits). Primorsky Trade Port LLC in the first two months of this year reduced oil transshipment through the port of Primorsk by 7% - to 11 million 15.4 thousand tons.

The exchange rate of the ruble to foreign currencies is now objective. This opinion was expressed to journalists by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin. “The ruble must be objective, linked to objective and fundamental indicators of Russian trade, primarily the balance of payments. Now it is objective,” he said. At the same time, the head of the Russian Ministry of Finance noted that he was concerned about high inflation. “But it is now declining,” the minister added.