The rouble was also down 0.2% against the euro to 83.70 and had lost 0.4% versus the Chinese yuan at 11.00 . Analysts said sales of foreign currency by Russian exporters was boosting demand for the rouble, while medium-term concerns over Russia's current account were pulling in the opposite direction. "Exporters have increased the supply of (foreign) currency. This is indicated by an increase in trading volumes, especially for the yuan-rouble pair," analysts at Sberbank CIB said in a note.
"At the same time, there does not seem to be increased demand for foreign currency from foreign companies leaving Russia," they added. However, analysts remain cautious over the rouble's medium-term trajectory amid Western pressure on Russia's crucial energy exports. The finance ministry said on Wednesday Russia posted a $44 billion budget deficit in the first four months of 2023 with energy revenues down 52% compared to the same period of 2022.
The Kremlin said on Thursday the widening spending gap was nothing to worry about, and that it had the economic situation in the country under full control. Russian stocks advanced strongly, but also pared some gains throughout the day. The dollar-denominated RTS index was up 1.3% to 1,066.4 points, having earlier been up over 3%, and the rouble-based MOEX Russian index was 1.7% higher at 2,591.2 points. For Russian equities guide see For Russian treasury bonds see (Reporting by Jake Cordell; editing by Christina Fincher and Mark Heinrich)
