Russian rouble falls to fresh six-month low vs dollar

MOSCOW: The Russian rouble hit a fresh six-month low versus the dollar and traded at over four-year lows against the euro on Thursday, remaining under pressure from a global increase in risk aversion and local geopolitical uncertainties.

At 0815 GMT, the rouble was 0.4pc weaker against the dollar at 77.38, a level last seen on April 22.

It had lost 0.3pc to trade at 90.18 versus the euro, moving towards its weakest level since early 2016 of 90.40 it touched on Monday.

It had been as strong as 61 against the dollar and 70 versus the euro in early 2020.

The rouble weakens along with other emerging market currencies, making it difficult to measure the extent of geopolitical pressure, said Rosbank, a subsidiary of Societe Generale.

In neighbouring Belarus, massive street protests continued against the abrupt inauguration of veteran President Alexander Lukashenko.

The European Union said he was not legitimate.

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny made his first public appearance on Wednesday after being discharged from a Berlin hospital where Germany said he was being treated for poisoning by a potentially deadly nerve agent.

Given that developments in Belarus emerge under "a conservative scenario" and European politicians have lowered the degree of criticism against Russia related to Navalny's case, there is hope that the rouble could stabilise in the range of 75-76 versus the dollar, Rosbank said.

Russia's month-end tax payments are seen limiting losses in the rouble as export-focused companies usually step up conversion of foreign currency in the second half of every month to meet local liabilities.

Russian stock indexes were down.

The dollar-denominated RTS index slid 1.7pc to 1,175.6 points.

The rouble-based MOEX Russian index was 0.9pc lower at 2,889.2 points.