The US dollar and the euro were trading at their highest levels for the year on the Moscow Stock Exchange before markets corrected later on Friday, according to reports from Interfax. The update came as traders absorbed data releases and reassessed currency dynamics amid ongoing macroeconomic headlines.
The report notes a modest recovery by the Russian ruble on a double-currency basket basis ahead of the weekend, alongside revisions to the Ministry of Finance’s data on the budget deficit. This combination of factors helped temper some of the earlier strength in hard currencies and suggested a cautious stance among investors as they prepared for weekend trading.
As of 19:00 Moscow time, the US dollar stood at 81.13 rubles per 1 USD, down 24.75 kopecks from the previous closing level. The euro declined by 23.75 kopecks to 88.91 rubles per euro. The Chinese yuan inched higher by 1.2 kopecks to 11.81 rubles. These movements illustrate the ongoing volatility in the ruble’s cross rates, influenced by shifts in commodity prices, risk sentiment, and policy expectations among regional financial authorities.
Earlier in the session, in afternoon trading on April 7, the Moscow Stock Exchange showed the dollar widening to 83.0437 rubles, marking the strongest intraday level since April 6, 2022, according to site data. In the morning, the dollar traded near 82.08 rubles, reflecting a broad intraday swing and a market environment characterized by rapid information flow and evolving forecasts.
Leading into the auction, traders watched the ruble hover around the 81 ruble mark for the dollar and the 89 ruble area for the euro, a threshold that market participants historically treat as a key watch point for valuation and risk appetite. Analysts noted that short-term liquidity conditions and external developments could push the pair in either direction as investors recalibrate positions for the week ahead.
Industry observers have previously flagged that the ruble’s trajectory is closely tied to the global energy complex and currency policy signals from major economies. For Canada and the United States, the implications include potential shifts in import costs, consumer price pressures, and central-bank communication. Market participants continue to scan for any new guidance on fiscal modernization, debt dynamics, and the pace of monetary normalization that could influence USD/RUB and EUR/RUB correlations in the coming sessions (Interfax; Vedomosti).