Russian rouble, stocks rise with oil prices in thin trade

MOSCOW: The Russian rouble rose on Friday, helped by higher oil prices, amid thin trade as Russia is on a public holiday until January 9.

At 1100 GMT, the rouble was 0.8 percent stronger against the dollar at 68.12 and had gained 0.7 percent to trade at 77.67 versus the euro.

Brent crude oil, a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was up 2 percent at $57.1 a barrel after China said it would hold talks with the United States to look for solutions to a trade dispute, while signs of lower crude supply also supported prices.

Russian stock indexes were also up.

The dollar-denominated RTS index was up 1.8 percent to 1,106.43 points. The rouble-based MOEX Russian index was 0.7 percent higher at 2,392.4 points.