Russian ruble climbs as US intervention hurts dollar

Russian ruble climbs as US intervention hurts dollar

Brent crude oil's price increase to US$83.3 per barrel also lifted market indices.

The ruble was 0.8% firmer against the dollar at 75.53, its highest level in a week. (Pixabay pic)
NEW YORK:
The Russian ruble rose sharply against the dollar on Monday as US authorities launched emergency measures to shore up confidence in the banking system after a bank failure, while higher oil prices pushed Russian stocks higher.

The US dollar fell sharply on Monday as authorities stepped in to cap the fallout from the sudden collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, with investors hoping the Federal Reserve will take a less aggressive monetary path.

At 0744 GMT, the ruble was 0.8% stronger against the dollar at 75.53 and had gained 0.1% to trade at 80.96 versus the euro. It had firmed 0.3% against the yuan to 10.94.

“The dollar is weakening on rising expectations that problems in the US banking system may halt the Federal Reserve’s tightening cycle,” said Andrei Kochetkov of Otkritie.

The ruble was at its strongest against the dollar in almost a week. A drop in oil prices late last week and data detailing Russia’s shrinking current account surplus had put pressure on the currency.

Brent crude oil, a global benchmark for Russia’s main export, was up 0.6% at US$83.3 a barrel, supporting Russian stock indexes.

The dollar-denominated RTS index was up 1.3% to 954.8 points. The ruble-based MOEX Russian index was 0.6% higher at 2,289.4 points.

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