The Russian rouble touched a new 2015 low on Wednesday, falling for the third day running as a retreat in oil prices dragged it down. At 0755 GMT, the rouble was 0.8 percent weaker against the dollar at 72.80 and down 0.8 percent to 79.66 versus the euro. The rouble briefly reached a 2015 low of 72.97 against the dollar on opening, before settling slightly above Tuesday's low-point of 72.85, the previous 2015 low.
Brent crude oil, a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was down 0.8 percent at $37.5 a barrel, partially reversing gains seen on Tuesday. "Today much depends on the dynamics of oil prices," Forex Club analyst Alena Afanasieva said in a note. "A certain strengthening of the rouble isn't excluded against the background of liquidating loss-making positions ahead of the long New Year holidays," she added. Russian share indexes also fell, mainly in dollar terms reflecting the weaker rouble. The dollar-denominated RTS index was down 0.9 percent to 762 points, while the rouble-based MICEX was flat at 1,762 points.
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