Russia: The Russian government is to increase its stake in the capital of gas giant GAZPROM by the end of the year, to acquire a majority of shares in the group. It currently holds a 39.3% stake, which it could push above the 50% mark. Foreign investors only have access to GAZPROM shares floated outside Russia, and not ones floated inside. The government has pledged to free up more GAZPROM shares, but only once it has taken a majority control of the world's biggest producer of gas.