CBR might hike rate again if ruble falls to 100 rubles/$1 - Aksakov

MOSCOW. Sept 5 (Interfax) - The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) might raise its key interest rate further if the U.S. dollar climbs to 100 rubles, the chairman of the State Duma Financial Market Committee, Anatoly Aksakov said in an interview with Parlamentskaya Gazeta.

"If the ruble continues to fall, nearing 100 rubles per dollar, I have no doubt that the CBR will again raise the key rate," Aksakov said. However, it is "unlikely" that the ruble will weaken to that point, the "dollar will be worth less than 100 rubles," he added.

"One hundred rubles per dollar is a psychological indicator that influences the sentiment of consumers and businesses. And if the ruble weakens below this threshold, then obviously people will start buying up foreign currency in order to preserve their savings, based on the expectations that form under the influence of this figure, and thus put additional pressure on the ruble's exchange rate. Therefore, it is important to prevent the national currency from falling below the threshold of 100 rubles per dollar," Aksakov said.