Ukraine's stock market index (PFTS) skyrocketed 80.39% in 2018, according to data sourced from Refinitv, comfortably becoming the top performer worldwide.
This rise came despite Ukraine's request for help from its international partners at the EU and NATO after Russia seized three naval vessels and 23 crew members in late November, according to CNBC.
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The incident happened in the Kerch Strait, a channel that separates the Sea of Azov and Black Sea, to the south of Ukraine and Russia.
Meanwhile, major stock markets across the world suffered their worst calendar year since the financial crisis in 2018, leaving many global investors fearful of further declines over the coming months.
