Rouble ends week on calm note

The Russian rouble pared its losses on Friday, ending a volatile week on a calm note, helped by a steady oil price and traders keen to close positions before a US holiday. At 1520 GMT, the rouble was 0.3 percent weaker against the dollar at 67.43 and down 0.2 percent at 74.97 per euro. The rouble firmed towards evening after registering bigger falls earlier in the day. On Friday international benchmark Brent was down around 1 percent overnight but held just above $50 per barrel for the rest of the day - a contrast with recent days when oil has fluctuated wildly.