REUTERS
Sanctions assume, among other things, a ban on Aeroflot flights to the United States.
Shares of Russia's major air carrier Aeroflot fell by more than 8% at the opening of trade on the Moscow Stock Exchange on August 9, when the opening price dropped from RUB 111.85 per share set by the close of trade on August 8 to RUB 108, contining their to fall below RUB 104.
Later, the decline accelerated, as the shares value dropped to less than RUB 100. As of 10:40, they were traded at around RUB 99.10, when the fall accounted for 11.09%, the Russian news agency RBC reported, referring to the trading data.
Read alsoRussia's ruble hits 2-year low in anticipation of new U.S. sanctions
The day before, on August 8, the United States informed of its plans to introduce new sanctions against Russia in view of an assassination attempt on ex-Russian double agent Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the UK. The initial restrictions will be related to the ban on the export of dual-use goods to Russia. If Moscow does not provide within three months guarantees of non-use of chemical weapons and does not allow international inspectors to Russia, the U.S. authorities can impose additional sanctions. They assume, among other things, a ban on Aeroflot flights to the United States.
Against the backdrop of this, on the morning of August 9, the ruble continued to weaken against the dollar and the euro, while shares of VTB and Sberbank dropped in the morning trading of the Moscow Stock Exchange.
Russia's embassy in the United States called new U.S. sanctions draconian, while noting that Russia is ready for an open investigation into the assassination attempt at Salisbury.