Dollar opens MICEX trades with gains
MOSCOW. March 12 (Interfax) - The U.S. dollar posted gains at the start of trading on the MICEX on Monday while the Russian ruble started decreasing at the Central Bank's bi-currency basket (set at $0.55 and 0.45 euro) owing to losses on the stock market.
The dollar opened MICEX trades at 29.58 rubles/$1 and, within a minute, increased to 29.66-29.7 rubles/$1, which is 14-18 kopecks above yesterday's close and around 15 kopecks over the official rate for Monday.
The euro opened trades at 38.87 rubles/EUR1, up five kopecks against Sunday's close but 12 under the official rate.
The bi-currency basket opened at 33.71, which was its Sunday close, but later went up 10 kopecks to 33.81 rubles.
Experts at the Interfax Center for Economic Analysis said that the ruble's losses have been driven by negative trends on the stock market on Monday morning.