18 Nov 2009 11:34

Central Bank purchased $6 bln on currency market in Nov 1-17

MOSCOW. Nov 18 (Interfax) - The Central Bank of Russia purchased approximately $6 billion on the domestic currency market in the first 17 days of November, the head of the bank said.

"The Central Bank purchased roughly $10 billion on the domestic currency market in October and purchased another $6 billion in the first 17 days of November," Central Bank Chairman Sergei Ignatyev said in the State Duma on Wednesday.

"The Central Bank of Russia conducts currency interventions to smooth substantial fluctuations in the ruble exchange rate," he said.

The effective ruble rate declined by approximately 3% in real terms in the first 10 months of the year, he said.