MOSCOW: Russia's rouble strengthened on Thursday, lifted by forex sales during thin trading ahead of a central bank interest rate decision on Friday.
At 1515 GMT, the rouble was 0.6 percent stronger against the dollar at 68.95 and gained 1.1 percent to trade at 75.56 versus the euro.
The Russian currency strengthened on weak volumes despite fresh falls in the price of oil, Russia's main export and a key driver for all Russian assets.
Brent crude oil was down 0.7 percent at $39.8 a barrel on Thursday.
"There have been corporate forex sales for several days which have been bought up by the market in the hope that the rouble would weaken along with oil," said a currency dealer at a large Western bank.
"But the dollar didn't break through 70 (roubles per dollar), the forex sales remained and it is necessary to unwind excessive long positions".
Russia's central bank meets on Friday and is seen leaving rates on hold as a ban on some Turkish food imports adds to worries over stubbornly high inflation, although the result is not clear cut.
Russian share indexes moved lower on Thursday, in line with oil prices.
The dollar-denominated RTS index was down 0.3 percent to 789 points, while its rouble-based peer MICEX traded 0.2 percent lower at 1,729 points.
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