Rouble weakens, market eyes higher state FX purchases

MOSCOW: The Russian rouble weakened on Monday, deprived of support from month-end tax payments and pricing in lower oil prices along with an expected increase in state purchases of foreign currency.

At 0758 GMT, the rouble was 0.6 percent weaker against the dollar at 63.14 and eased 0.2 percent to 73.45 versus the euro.

The market is awaiting this week the finance ministry's announcement of its foreign currency purchasing plan. According to Reuters poll, such state purchases are on track to reach a record high in July.

State FX interventions add to pressure on the rouble, which on Monday moved in line with other emerging market currencies.

Geopolitics is in focus ahead of a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump scheduled for July 16.

BCS brokerage said the market counts on Putin-Trump meeting as on an event that could become the first step for better relations between the two countries.

Prices for oil, Russia's key exports, put pressure on Russian assets. Brent crude oil futures were down 0.9 percent at $78.56 a barrel.

The dollar-denominated RTS index fell 0.7 percent to 1,146.3 points, while the rouble-based MOEX was 0.1 percent higher at 2,298.5 points.