@Neolex:

My take: Putin is desperate to drive up the price of oil and gold. I’d bet a year’s pay he’s dumbfounded that his activities have resulted in lower prices rather than a super-spike. He keeps playing the same song, thinking the dancers will return to the dance floor. They market’s telling him: the room is now empty, Vlad; so give it up. We’ll know how quickly he learns by how many of these threats he continues making into an empty room.