7 Feb 2013 14:57

Russian Central Bank buys $644 mln in forex on domestic market in Jan

MOSCOW. Feb 7 (Interfax) - The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) bought $643.9 million worth of foreign currency on the domestic forex market in January, according to the bank's website.

This was the first time since last May that the CBR purchased forex.

All of the purchases were targeted, totaling $596 million in dollars and the equivalent of $47.9 million in euro.

Forex was purchased on six days in January, including the first four working days of the year.

Target interventions are chiefly aimed at neutralizing anticipation regarding ruble exchange rate fluctuations, formed under the influence of the foreign economic situation. Target intervention volumes take into account prices for energy resources on international markets.