Dollar posts slight losses, ruble climbs
MOSCOW. June 24 (Interfax) - The U.S. dollar posted losses in MICEX trading on Wednesday as the situation on the Russian stock market improved. The ruble was able to improve its position against the bi-currency basket but further possibilities of strengthening appear limited.
The dollar fell by 17.5 kopecks to close at 31.125 rubles/$1 while the euro only slipped by 0.5 kopecks to finish at 43.83 rubles/EUR1.
The Central Bank's bi-currency basket (set at $0.55 and 0.45 euro) slipped by 10 kopecks to finish the day at 36.94 rubles.
The dollar's average weighted exchange rate on the MICEX went down 39.23 kopecks to 31.1456 rubles/$1 in Today deals on Wednesday and by 31.11 kopecks to 31.1796 rubles/$1 in Tomorrow deals. Combined dollar trading on the MICEX amounted to $3.994 billion, of which $1.192 billion were Today deals and $2.802 billion were Tomorrow deals.
The euro's average exchange rate increased by 18.75 kopecks to 43.963 rubles in Today deals and by 5.68 kopecks to 43.9019 rubles/EUR1 in Tomorrow deals. Total euro trading came to 217.1 million euro, of which 70.7 million euro were Today deals and 146.4 million euro were Tomorrow deals.
The overnight MosPrime Rate came to 7%, down 54 basis points for the day.