18 Jan 2013 10:18

Dollar takes slight dip as share trading begins Friday

MOSCOW. Jan 18 (Interfax) - The U.S. dollar began trading on the Moscow exchange Friday trending slightly down, as the euro ticked up and the ruble held steady against the bicurrency basket.

The dollar opened in the 30.18-30.27 rubles/$1 range - averaging 30.185 rubles/$1 in the first minute of trading - which was about a single kopeck down from Thursday close. The euro was at 40.4 rubles/EUR1, around 2 kopecks up. The bicurrency basket ($0.55 and EUR 0.45) was flat at market open at 34.78 rubles.

The dollar began the day at roughly 15 kopecks under the official Friday exchange rate. The euro was 5 kopecks higher.