INTERNATIONAL

Soviet Foreign Trade Bank Closes: Foreign firms and joint ventures in Moscow were left without cash this week as a key branch of the former Soviet foreign trade bank closed. The Vneshekonombank branch in Moscow’s International Trade Center did not reopen after the two-day break for the Russian Christmas, which ended Wednesday. The move means that Moscow branches of many firms were unable to withdraw foreign currency. A bank spokesman said he was sure that foreign ventures would get back funds deposited at the bank but could not say when.