29 Aug 2011 10:13

Dollar up, euro down at start of Monday MICEX trading

MOSCOW. Aug 29 (Interfax) - The dollar lost ground as the euro gained in the first few minutes of trading on the MICEX Monday, and the ruble pick up a bit against the bicurrency basket.

The dollar opened at 28.71-28.75 rubles/$1, 20-24 kopecks down from Friday close and about 15 kopecks under the official Monday exchange rate.

The euro began trading at 41.75 rubles/EUR1, 18 kopecks up on Friday close and 8 kopecks over the official exchange rate.

The bicurrency basket ($0.55 and EUR 0.45) slipped 5-6 kopecks to 34.57-34.58 rubles.

The ruble's gains were due to continued increased demand for ruble liquidity, according to Interfax Center for Economic Analysis experts.