MOSCOW: The Russian rouble weakened on Thursday as investors awaited a report on Moscow's role in the 2016 U.S. elections and amid thin trade in Western markets before the Easter holiday.
At 0727 GMT, the rouble was 0.25 percent weaker against the dollar at 64.00 and had lost 0.31 percent to trade at 72.33 versus the euro.
The day before, the rouble reached its strongest level since March 22 at 63.80 after firm demand in two government bond auctions that serve as a gauge of global market sentiment toward Russian assets.
"For us, the results of yesterday's placements show that in the conditions of a neutral ambient background, investors continue to look for reasons to buy Russian government debt," analysts at Rosbank said in a note.
On the other hand, there is sanctions pressure on the Russian currency as investors are waiting for Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. elections.
It is already known that the report did not find that any of President Donald Trump's campaign officials knowingly conspired with the Russian government.
Brent crude oil, a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was down 0.28 percent at $71.40 a barrel.
Russian stock indexes were down.
The dollar-denominated RTS index was down 0.52 percent to 1,259.00 points. The rouble-based MOEX Russian index was 0.38 percent lower at 2,557.97 points.
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