Russian rouble soars to more than 4-month high past 89 vs dollar
The central bank's bigger-than-expected interest rate increase to 15% in late October has also helped. High oil prices in September and October mean hefty taxes to the budget for exporters, who also need to pay interim dividends using roubles, all of which could see the rate reach 88 to the dollar, Alfa Bank analysts said in a report.
- Country:
- Russian Federation
The Russian rouble on Wednesday soared to its highest level since early July against a weaker dollar, boosted by the continued supply of foreign currency by exporters and high interest rates.
The rouble was up 1.9% at 88.92 by 1114 GMT, after earlier hitting 88.78, its strongest point since July 4. It had gained 1.6% to 96.60 versus the euro and firmed 1.7% against the yuan to 12.26.
The Russian currency has been buoyed by a presidential decree requiring some exporters to convert a significant portion of FX revenue, strengthening from beyond 100 to the dollar since the decree was announced last month. The central bank's bigger-than-expected interest rate increase to 15% in late October has also helped.
High oil prices in September and October mean hefty taxes to the budget for exporters, who also need to pay interim dividends using roubles, all of which could see the rate reach 88 to the dollar, Alfa Bank analysts said in a report. "But such rouble strengthening will not last long. The exchange rate will return to the 100 roubles per dollar mark and could even exceed it in early 2025," Alfa Bank said.
Analysts at Bank St Petersburg said the dollar's depreciation was also favouring the rouble. The dollar was trading broadly lower as a surprisingly softer U.S. inflation reading bolstered bets that the Federal Reserve has reached the end of its monetary tightening cycle.
Brent crude oil, a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was down 0.6% at $81.97 a barrel. Russian stock indexes were mixed, with the dollar-denominated RTS index up 1.1% at 1,129.1 points, but the rouble-based MOEX Russian index 0.7% lower at 3,189.1 points.
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