MOSCOW: The Russian rouble edged slightly higher on Friday, supported by monthly tax payments, with trading thin because of the Good Friday holiday in Western markets.
At 0725 GMT, the rouble was 0.1 percent stronger against the dollar at 68.48 and had gained 0.4 percent to 76.51 versus the euro.
Brent crude oil, a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was down two cents at $40.45 a barrel, having firmed above $40 per barrel on Thursday evening after data showed a renewed decline in US oil rigs.
"Today trading in the currency section of the Moscow Exchange promises to be calm, because Easter holidays in America and Europe leave the Russian market without external reference points," MFX Broker analyst Alexander Grichenkov said in a note.
He said the rouble would receive some support from the end of the monthly tax period. Companies need to pay Mineral Extraction Tax today and profit tax on Monday.
Russian stocks indexes rose on Friday, pricing in the modest rally in oil prices on Thursday evening when the stock exchange was closed.
The dollar-denominated RTS index was up 1.9 percent to 864 points, while the rouble-based MICEX was 0.6 percent higher at 1,878 points.
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