MOSCOW: The Russian rouble edged up on Friday, buoyed by stronger oil and end-of-month tax payments, with thin trading ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.
At 0957 GMT, the rouble was 0.1 percent stronger against the dollar at 59.66 and had gained 0.3 percent to trade at 63.51 versus the euro.
Some experts expect Trump to lift or at least ease penalties the West imposed on Moscow in response to its annexation of Crimea and its role in the military conflict in eastern Ukraine, likely supporting the Russian currency and stock indexes.
"Today's Donald Trump's inauguration address could make a remarkable impact on the whole group of risky assets, including the rouble," Mikhail Poddubsky, analyst at Promsvyazbank, said in a research note.
Brent crude oil, a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was up 1.2 percent at $54.80 a barrel.
Russian share indexes dipped.
The dollar-denominated RTS index was down 0.1 percent to 1,135 points, while the rouble-based MICEX was 0.5 percent lower at 2,151 points.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.