MOSCOW: The rouble was steady on Friday, retaining support from month-end taxes that boost demand for the Russian currency and from oil prices near 2019 highs.
The rouble was little changed at 65.55 versus the dollar at 0716 GMT and eased 0.1 percent to 74.38 against the euro.
Month-end tax payments provided the main support for the rouble, analysts at Rosbank said in a note.
Tax payments usually prompt export-focused companies to convert their foreign currency revenues to meet local liabilities in the second half of every month.
In the near term, the rouble is likely to stabilise within a range of 65.50-66.00 against the dollar, Olma brokerage said.
Prices for oil were supportive for Russian assets. Brent crude oil was up 0.1 percent at $67.16 a barrel, trading near its highest level so far this year of $67.38 hit earlier this week.
The dollar-denominated RTS index was unchanged at 1,188.65 points, while the rouble-based MOEX Russian index was 0.1 percent higher at 2,471.9 points.
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