1.   Foreign investors will be allowed to buy Russian ruble-denominated treasury debt at auction for the first time today.

2.   Russia set off financial turmoil last August when it defaulted on billions in treasury debt, about a third of that owed to foreigners.

3.   The final list of investors accepting the restructuring agreement on defaulted treasury debt is expected to be established by late Thursday.

4.   Imports dropped sharply after the government devalued the ruble and defaulted on treasury debts in August.

5.   Most Russian banks have been on the brink of bankruptcy or faced severe liquidity problems since the government defaulted on its treasury debt in August.

6.   Russia has been in deep recession since mid-August, when the government defaulted on its treasury debt and devalued the ruble, sending the cost of imports soaring.

7.   Since Russia defaulted on its treasury debts and devalued the currency in August, the government has produced no comprehensive plans to tackle the financial crisis.

8.   The Russian government defaulted on its treasury debt last week, and announced that it would force investors to swap their paper for new, presumably longer-term, obligations.

9.   The Russian government defaulted on its treasury debt last week, and announced that it would force investors to swap their paper for new, longer-term, obligations.