Russia's Finance Ministry sold $1.3 billion in forex market interventions, the Central Bank said Tuesday, citing its accounts on Monday, Jan. 12.
The Central Bank publishes its interventions data with a time lag.
The Jan. 12 accounts included operations made on Dec. 30 and on Jan. 5, 6, 8 and 9, the bank's press service said. It did not specify the volume of sales for each day, and it was not clear over which days the Finance Ministry intervened.
Russian authorities spent $76 billion and 5.4 billion euros ($6.4 billion) defending the currency in interventions in 2014. The ruble has been hit by plummeting prices of oil and Western sanctions imposed last year over the Kremlin's role in the Ukraine crisis.
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.