MOSCOW: The Russian rouble eased on Friday as appetite for risky assets was low and ahead of a Russian central bank meeting in which the market expects the key interest rate to be held at 7.75 percent.
At 0717 GMT, the rouble was 0.24 percent weaker against the dollar at 66.07 and had lost 0.18 percent to trade at 74.92 versus the euro.
The central bank was expected to announce its rate decision at 1030 GMT. All 21 analysts and economists surveyed in late January by Reuters said the central bank would leave the rate at 7.75 percent.
"For the rouble, it would be a neutral outcome. The main interest will perhaps be the wording of the press release, as investors are probably looking for any signs of forward guidance from the regulator," analysts at VTB Capital said in a note.
The rouble was under pressure in early trade because of global worries about U.S.-China trade negotiations and a global economic slowdown. U.S. President Donald Trump said he did not plan to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Appetite for risk assets has diminished since the European Commission on Thursday sharply cut its forecasts for euro zone economic growth this year and next, stoking fears a global slowdown is spreading to Europe.
The rouble was also under pressure because of lower oil prices. Brent crude oil, a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was down 0.62 percent at $61.25 a barrel.
Russian stock indexes were also down on global worries.
The dollar-denominated RTS index was down 0.68 percent to 1,192.01 points. The rouble-based MOEX Russian index was 0.39 percent lower at 2,500.33 points.
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