Russia’s central bank promised to support financial institutions hit by U.S. sanctions as stocks took a tumble in Moscow on Wednesday. In an online statement, the bank promised to “take adequate measures” to support targeted institutions. Russia’s state-owned VTB bank – Russia’s second-largest – was down 0.5 percent on Wednesday morning. Other major banks that were left unscathed by sanctions – such as the country’s largest, Sberbank – were trading higher. Russia’s MICEX benchmark index added 2.3 percent from its previous closing. U.S. officials said Tuesday that roughly 30 percent of Russia’s banking sector assets are now constrained by sanctions. The move comes after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine. Western officials accuse pro-Russian separatists of bringing down the plane with a missile supplied by Moscow. The West also halted future sales to lucrative Russian economic sectors, with the U.S. announcing plans […]