Rouble stays up

The rouble firmed on Friday on higher oil prices and reports that the United States will not impose new sanctions on Russia, including on its debt, before November mid-term elections. At 1513 GMT, the rouble was 0.31 percent stronger against the dollar at 65.43, against the euro it gained 0.42 percent to 76.06 as the European single currency fell on political wrangling over Italy's budget.
The rouble felt support from high oil prices, heading away from its weakest since 2016 of 70.60 hit earlier this month amid intensified concerns about new US sanctions. Brent crude, a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was up 1.30 percent at $82.78 a barrel. The Russian currency has gained more than 6 percent versus the dollar in the last two weeks, helped by higher oil prices and the central bank's decision to halt purchases of foreign currency for state reserves until the end of the year.