INSTANT VIEW: Reaction to Obama's Russia speech

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Following are market watchers' comments on a speech by U.S. President Barack Obama to Russian students in Moscow on Tuesday.

For a menu of stories on Obama's visit click: [nL3208043]

SERGEI MARKOV, PRO-KREMLIN LAWMAKER AND HEAD OF INSTITUTE OF

POLITICAL RESEARCH, MOSCOW

"It seems to be he did not answer the fundamental question. Why there is such anti-Americanism in the world? It also exists in Russia for specific reasons. The world is not to blame for this anti-Americanism. He didn't have an answer for that.

"A more specific question is why is there anti-Americanism in Russia. It exists because of the aggressive policies of Americans in the post-Soviet space. The real Russophobia is there, in the American political class. There was no answer to that main question. I'm not convinced that Obama particularly has one.

"The United States is convinced that Russia's influence should be limited to within its borders. That it should not be surrounded by friendly states but by regimes hostile to Russia, controlled by Washington."

YEVGENY VOLK, HERITAGE FOUNDATION, MOSCOW

"I believe it's a strong message about liberty and the values which are inherent for American society and that was the main goal -- to confirm American values, like freedom, and an open and transparent economy.

"I certainly believe he tried to avoid direct criticism of Russia's situation and this country's kind of crony capitalism, but I see the signals on those issues in his speech. For example, he mentioned issues like the lack of property rights and lack of business protection."

PETER HALLORAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, PHAROS FINANCIAL GROUP

"If you look at the way the Russian markets trade, there is a huge political component to the discount rate which comes from the attitude of Western investors."

"He is clearly reaching out. What we will get is the political pendulum swinging back, which will take some of the pressure off the discount rate. You get a six-month honeymoon, is the way I see it."

SERGEI MARKADANOV, INSTITUTE FOR POLITICAL AND MILITARY

ANALYSIS, MOSCOW

"The speech could be characterized as containing some compromise message, but it did not deal with many disputed areas. For my country, the situation in Ukraine and Georgia is not the same as in the rest of Eastern Europe as they are our near neighbors."