The ruble rose strongly on Thursday, supported by end-of-month tax payments and a firmer oil price, while the MICEX index of Russian stocks touched a 2014 high.
At 8:50 p.m. Moscow time, the ruble was 1.3 percent stronger against the dollar at 46.86 and 1.4 percent firmer at 57.91 versus the euro.
Russian exporters are forced to sell foreign currency to meet monthly tax payments near the end of each month. Mineral extraction tax falls due on Nov. 25 and profit tax on Nov. 28.
The ruble was also supported by a firming oil price, with Brent crude gaining to $78.8 per barrel as markets weighed the possibility of OPEC cutting production at a key meeting on Nov. 27.
"If OPEC takes a decision to reduce volumes this will have a notable [positive] impact on the ruble, but for the time being it will probably trade sideways," Grand Capital analyst Sergei Kozlovsky said in a note.
Analysts also said President Vladimir Putin and Central Bank officials may have calmed the ruble by saying they would not let speculators drive its moves.
"Apparently, those verbal interventions this week by the Central Bank … continue to have an effect," said Gleb Zadoya, head analyst at Profit Group investment house in Moscow. "Nevertheless, it would be premature to speak about a sustainable strengthening of the ruble,” he added.
Traders said that speculative pressure against the ruble had eased since the Central Bank floated it last week, making it less predictable, with overall trading volumes low.
Russian stocks also traded higher on Thursday, with the ruble-based MICEX hitting a 2014 high of 1,532 points before falling back. MICEX was still up 0.8 percent on the day at 1,530 points when markets closed.
MICEX has made steady gains over recent weeks as the sliding ruble made ruble-priced shares
cheaper in dollar terms and boosted ruble earnings of major companies with dollar export revenues.
The dollar-based RTS index, helped by the strengthening ruble on Thursday, was up 1.88 percent on the day at 1,040 points.
However, Alfa Forex analyst Andrei Dirgin said in a note that there was a "catastrophic lack of drivers" for Russian stocks, with investors in waiting mode ahead of next week's OPEC meeting.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.