Trading of foreign securities on the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange faced a temporary halt, as reported by the Russian press agency TASS. The agency notes that SPB Exchange remains the sole platform within the country for handling foreign assets, and prior to the temporary halt, foreign stock orders were not being executed through broker applications on the platform.
In a broader move linked to international sanctions, the United States Treasury expanded its blacklist targeting Russia. The restrictions affected around 40 individuals and a number of entities. The updated list includes financial institutions such as Absolut Bank, HCF Bank, Post Bank, and Reserve Bank of Russia funds, alongside SPB Exchange, Arctic LNG 2 LLC, and AFK Sistema on the SDN roster. Being placed on the SDN list implies restricted access to the U.S. dollar system and to broader U.S. financial channels, effectively curtailing certain kinds of cooperation and asset movements. Some UnionPay cards issued by Russian Standard reportedly will cease functioning abroad starting November 3, according to the bank’s support resources.
By 17:16 Moscow time, shares of the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange had dropped 4.18 percent, settling around 153.6 rubles, following the SDN designation news. Later in the afternoon, trading data showed a continued slide, with losses accelerating to roughly 11 percent and the stock trading below 144 rubles per share. AFK Sistema shares also retreated, slipping about 2.09 percent to 16.54 rubles.
Earlier, executives from Aven and Friedman acknowledged missteps in their respective operational assessments, a development seen by some market watchers as a signal of the heightened risk environment and the cascading effects of sanctions on Russian market activity. Analysts in North America and Europe have noted that these measures may influence cross-border capital flows, investor confidence, and liquidity in both related equities and the broader regional markets. In Canada and the United States, investors are monitoring how sanctions and enforcement actions shape available counterparties, settlement rails, and the ability of foreign firms to access U.S. dollar clearing networks. Market participants are advised to consider hedging strategies and to stay informed through official Treasury and central bank communications. The evolving landscape continues to be shaped by diplomatic negotiations, regulatory updates, and the tempo of enforcement actions across jurisdictions.