MOSCOW: The Russian rouble was little changed early on Tuesday as a slight decline in oil prices was countered by risk appetite spurred by polls showing a reduced chance of Britain leaving the European Union.
At 0739 GMT, the rouble was 0.3 percent stronger against the dollar at 64.11 and had gained less than 0.1 percent to 72.74 versus the euro.
The Russian currency rose on Monday, in line with emerging market peers, as oil prices gained and as fears over Thursday's Brexit referendum eased.
Brent crude oil, a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was down 0.6 percent at around $50.4 a barrel on Tuesday.
"If there is a positive outcome of the British referendum, then tactically quite good prospects will open for the rouble," Rosbank analysts said in a note.
"Investor interest in the rouble continues to be warmed by the gradual transition of the economy to growth, as well as the Bank of Russia's lack of intentions to carry out interventions on the forex market."
Russia's economy has been in crisis since 2014, when an oil price collapse and Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis pushed the country into recession. But the central bank now expects the economy to show quarterly growth no later than the second half of this year.
Russian share indexes were lower on Tuesday, following strong gains on Monday.
The dollar-denominated RTS index was down 0.7 percent to 928 points, and the rouble-based MICEX was also 0.7 percent lower at 1,890 points.
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