MOSCOW: The Russian rouble was steady and stocks posted small gains in light trade on Friday, as concerns about tensions with the West were tempered by indications that Russia was not seeking to escalate the crisis.
The rouble had added 0.1 percent to 57.21 versus the dollar as of 0720 GMT and was little changed at 70.50 against the euro.
The rouble has firmed 0.7 percent against the dollar in the first quarter but has lagged the 5 percent increase in the price of oil, Russia's key export, due to rising political tension with the West.
Russia expelled 60 US diplomats on Thursday and said it would eject scores from other countries that joined London and Washington in censuring Moscow over the poisoning of a spy in Britain on March 4.
But Russia's response, which mirrored expulsions by Western governments, appeared to show Moscow was not seeking to escalate the crisis that has involved the biggest expulsion of diplomats since the Cold War.
"The retaliatory measures are equivalent and predictable, which points at their limited impact," BCS brokerage said.
Activity in global markets was limited due to the Good Friday holiday in many nations, lowering volatility in the rouble. Brent crude futures did not trade on Friday.
"Volatility will be back on the market no earlier than on Tuesday," Alor Brokerage said in a note, as many global markets stay closed on Monday for the long Easter weekend holiday.
The dollar-denominated RTS index was up 0.4 percent at 1,252.4 points, while its rouble-based peer MOEX was 0.03 percent higher at 2,275.3 points.
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