At 0855 GMT, the rouble was 0.15pc stronger against the dollar at 63.93 and gained 0.14pc to 71.60 versus the euro.

The rouble firmed 0.6pc on Tuesday, touching 63.91 to the dollar, its highest since April 24 after the ministry said it would auction two series of OFZ treasury bonds.

The auction was not held last week because of a public holiday. Demand for treasury bonds, which serve as a gauge of investor interest in Russian assets, has supported the rouble this year.

Brent crude oil, a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was up 0.3pc at $62.30 a barrel.

Russian stock indexes were up. The dollar-denominated RTS index rose 0.40pc to 1,364 points. The rouble-based MOEX Russian index was 0.31pc higher at 2,770 points.