MOSCOW: The Russian rouble held steady early on Friday, falling slightly against the dollar but rising against the euro, as oil prices traded in a tight range.
At 0725 GMT, the rouble was 0.2 percent weaker against the dollar at 65.00 but had gained 0.3 percent to trade at 73.68 versus the euro.
Brent crude oil, a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was down 0.7 percent at around $47.7 a barrel as the US dollar strengthened on global markets.
"The Russian currency is continuing to be supported by relatively stable oil prices," Rosbank analysts said in a note.
The rouble was on course to end the week around 1.5 percent stronger against the dollar, lifted by a rally in oil prices earlier in the week on slumping US crude inventories.
Russian share indexes were mixed on Friday.
The dollar-denominated RTS index was up 0.1 percent to 917 points, while the rouble-based MICEX was 0.5 percent lower at 1,892 points.
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