Russia central bank says likelihood of April rate cut has declined

MOSCOW: The Russian central bank is less likely to deliver a rate cut at its next board meeting in late April, Russian news agencies quoted the regulator's first deputy governor, Ksenia Yudayeva, as saying on Thursday.

"I can say for sure that the probability of a cut (to the key rate) has indeed declined compared to what we expected last time," RIA news agency quoted Yudayeva as saying.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Yudayeva said the latest round of US sanctions against Moscow will slow monetary easing in Russia.

But the central bank stills plans to switch to a so-called "neutral" monetary policy by the end of the year, Yudayeva said.