RUSSIAN STOCK MARKET: PROSPECTIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUAL INVESTMENT

Abstract

Today information technologies provide good opportunities for computerization in the financial sector for financial services and individual investment. The majority of Russians look at investment process as very difficult and risky, therefore preferring to deposit their money. To support this argument, the growth of the individual deposits for the period from 01.01.2012 to 01.01.2016, grew by 98% [1]. On the contrary, the number of private investors in the Russian stock market is less than one percent of the country’s population. While in many developed countries this figure is 20% on average and in the US it has reached about 60% [2]. All these facts reflect a major problem in the financial industry – financial illiteracy of Russians. Thus, the aim of this paper is to examine the available opportunities for keeping and augmenting of funds for an individual investor. The main questions addressed in this paper are: choosing the best investment account; identifying the most efficient investment tools and calculating return-risk ratio for the investment. The information from bank and investment companies, Internet sites, financial encyclopedia, financial periodicals, Federal state statistics service and other financial sources are analyzed. The available investment tools are described and assessed in terms of risk/return. In addition, the paper summarizes available sources for investment ideas and presents a newly created investment method for individuals. Qualitative and quantitative research methods are applied to provide descriptive, interpretive and empirical data.