Russian Central Bank extends restrictions on exchange trading in blocked securities until Oct 1

MOSCOW. March 30 (Interfax) - The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has extended for another six months the restrictions on the circulation of some foreign securities blocked by international depositories that were previously withdrawn to non-trading accounts, the CBR said in a press release.

The goal of the CBR's decision is to protect the rights and interests of investors and to minimize their risks.

Russian depositories after April 1 will continue to maintain separate records of client rights to blocked assets. Brokers in turn are not permitted to accept and/or execute client orders to facilitate transactions with these securities on the exchange market. Meantime, the owners retain ownership of these foreign securities.

These restrictions do not apply to securities of foreign issuers that carry out their main activities in Russia.