The closure of Swift will hurt the western investors more than the Russians at the moment, in fact Russia gains from it in the short term by not having to pay their debts. BBC Radio 4 just had an in depth explanation of it this evening. Sanctioning banks effectively shuts down their use of Swift, but allows payment of debts - awkwardly this has to work both ways for around one month. Then they can be cut off from Swift.

@Sofabeast so let Putin take Ukraine because investors might get hurt? Fuck'em..they don't have Russian troops or missiles landing on top of them..they're nothng more than Money Laundering anyway..

@Charlene Yes, follow the money.
Problem is, sanctions hurt in both directions and they take time. Lots of time. Still waiting for sanctions to hurt Sadam Hussain!
There is a vast web of money which can get rich people very hurt, but in so doing, they will inflict greater pain on poorer people through reducing things like pensions and petit shares pay-outs and interest rate rises.