Rouble steadies vs dollar, firms away from over 11-month low against euro

Kitco Media
By Reuters
Published:
Updated:
Reuters



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This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine


MOSCOW, March 31 (Reuters) - The Russian rouble traded steady against the dollar on Friday but pulled back from a more than 11-month low against the euro, supported by relatively higher oil prices while buffeted by geopolitical headwinds over the conflict in Ukraine. At 0807 GMT, the rouble was 0.1% weaker against the dollar at 77.18 and had shed 0.2% against the yuan to 11.22 .


The Russian currency may gravitate towards moderate weakening against the dollar on Friday, said Bank St Petersburg analysts in a note.


The rouble had gained 0.3% to trade at 84.13 versus the euro , pulling away from 84.3975 hit on Thursday, its weakest point since April 20, 2022.


The rouble has been on a steadily weakening trend throughout March and the first quarter, under external pressure since a Western price cap on Russia's oil sales came into force in early December alongside a European Union embargo on buying sea-borne Russian oil.


The risk of lower export earnings as a result, the cost of reorienting raw material supplies east and the recent plunge in oil prices to a more than one-year low have all impacted the rouble rate.


Brent crude oil , a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was down 0.9% at $78.6 a barrel, but still well clear of mid-march lows.


Russian stock indexes were lower.


The dollar-denominated RTS index was down 0.6% to 1,000.9 points. The rouble-based MOEX Russian index was 0.6% lower at 2,452.2 points. For Russian equities guide see For Russian treasury bonds see (Reporting by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Christopher Cushing)

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