*Ruble in free fall.

[elleng]

Per msnbc in Moscow.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

1. Just as valuable as a Confederate dollar.

Cut the money off wherever it is.

[Ocelot II]

5. If anything can take Putin down, it will be money, or the lack of it.

Will the oligarchs turn on him if their money supply is cut off? Or will China step in and bail him out?

[canetoad]

21. Putin dreams

Of the power an alliance with China will bring.

Orwell's map of the world.

?lb=1280,720

[Irish_Dem]

27. They probably moved all their money to a safe spot quite some time ago.

In preparation for the invasion.

[hunter]

32. China won't bail him out.

They're probably waiting to buy Siberia in the bankruptcy sale, if not the territory, then all of its resources.

[smb]

43. The NRA and GQP Are Gonna Have To Tighten Their Belts nt

[C_U_L8R]

2. Russians better be reminiscing for empty stores and bread lines.

Fuck them if they can't get their country under control. They had a choice. And blew every opportunity.

[AngryOldDem]

3. Good.

Wait until the sanctions really kick in.

Putin is taking a huge gamble here. But I guess destroying his country’s economy is just the cost of doing business.

[WarGamer]

6. as long as oil is $100/bb, Russia is making bank.

[Ocelot II]

12. Not if the ruble collapses and Russia doesn't have access to dollars or euros.

[Lucky Luciano]

39. Oil is paid for in dollars. If China buys oil, they're good.

[herding cats]

13. Exactly.

They've done the math and they're still coming out fine.

[Irish_Dem]

29. I think they did the math too. And they will be fine.

[herding cats]

34. They've also known this was coming for a very long time.

They've had time to move their assets around and prepare.

[Irish_Dem]

37. Of course they knew what was coming and prepared for it.

They probably know to the penny how much money they will make off the invasion.

[AngryOldDem]

14. Kier Simmons just brought that up.

If the Ruble is worthless, that won’t matter.

[WarGamer]

4. unfortunately... so are US markets.

[BeyondGeography]

11. Would you rather be holding roubles or dollars right now?

[WarGamer]

17. hahhahaha definitely USD

[herding cats]

19. I'd imagine the wealthy in power there moved out of the Ruble before this.

But, the other posters point still stands. Oil is $100 a barrel and our US market futures were some $700+ down when I looked.

No one will not feel the pain of this. As Putin intends.

[BeyondGeography]

24. Everyday Russians are going to get pounded

Oligarchs not so much.

[Irish_Dem]

33. Putin is sending a very strong message about his power.

Global power has shifted.

[herding cats]

38. He's definitely trying to shift power.

I believe this is a plan he's dreamed about and been working toward since 1997. Which is just my armchair opinion. Which holds no weight.

[Irish_Dem]

40. We seem to be doing as well as the so called experts.

Yes it is a long time dream of his to revive the old USSR.

And now that he is aligned with China, and they have greatly weakened Western democracies, the time has finally come to make his dream real.

[herding cats]

41. Do you recall the TPP?

It's intentions were to help marginalize and curb China before a moment such as this. It's difficult to impress the gravity of geopolitical implications into a trade deal, but they're always there.

Here we are today, and in retrospect it does seem clearer.

China, Russia and Iran all need close eyes on their current alliances. As do the Saudi's playing behind the scenes here. As always.

[Irish_Dem]

42. Yes but nothing has curbed China.

They have forged economic agreements across the globe.
And prospered.

Yes there are other actors playing in the background I agree.

The successful weakening of Western Democracies was not the work of one country.

The Russian-China alliance is working well right now.
But yes they are using each other and need to keep eyes wide open.

[elleng]

15. U.S. markets will bounce back, imo, easier than ruble,

(from me, NOT an economist.)

[WarGamer]

18. of course...

[AngryOldDem]

23. To be expected, no?

Yes, the markets will take a hard hit. But they will weather it much better than Russia’s will.

Dow futures were down -800 around 11 p.m. Now they’re down to around -500. I’m looking for a steep drop at the open, with maybe curcuit breakers tripping throughout the day. It’s not going to be pretty for awhile.

So goes a war climate.

[WarGamer]

26. I bought SPY puts on Monday... they should be up SHARPLY tomorrow...

But it feels like dirty money now...

[herding cats]

7. Their markets are also suspended.

Not unexpected and Putin doesn't care.

[elleng]

16. Right.

[herding cats]

28. I do wonder if the 10 or 12 (I forget) ruling families there have managed to shore up their assets?

What currency did they purchase and where have they moved their wealth? In other words, where were they promised sanctuary.

[elleng]

31. Some place(s) with sand???

[herding cats]

36. I would guess as much myself.

[Irish_Dem]

22. He and the oligarchs prepared for this I am sure.

[AngryOldDem]

25. And to hell with everyone else. That's the Putin way.

[Irish_Dem]

35. He wants the world to suffer. He is sending a strong message.

About the global power shift.

[sprinkleeninow]

8. ...

'Sad Trombone'

[vercetti2021]

9. Good

Let Russia fall.

[Samrob]

10. But Putin prepared for this by moving lots for him and his cronies to gold.

Can Russian own resources in western countries be confiscated by their governments?

[Irish_Dem]

20. Putin and his oligarchs no doubt moved their cash into something safe.

[roamer65]

30. Start full scale monetary operations to crash it.

Put Russia into hyperinflation.

[BannonsLiver]

44. Good to see the Putin fan boy who ain't as clever as he thinks he is show up in the thread.