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Russian rouble weakens ahead of anticipated crucial rate hike

The Russian rouble was flat versus the dollar on Friday, ahead of the reserve bank's rate decision, after reinforcing in three consecutive trading sessions today, assisted by foreign currency sales by exporting companies.

By 0730 GMT, the rouble was 0.4% lower at 85.35 against the dollar.

Russia's central bank is set to raise its crucial interest rate by 200 basis points at a Friday board meeting, according to a. survey, as it has a hard time to contain inflation, fuelled by. state costs and loaning growth.

Trading in major currencies moved to the non-prescription. market, obscuring the pricing data, after Western sanctions on. the Moscow Exchange and its clearing agent, the. National Cleaning Centre, were presented on July 12.

Russian exporters increased their foreign currency sales. ahead of business tax payments due on July 29. These sales are. supporting the Russian currency.

Versus the yuan, which had currently become the most traded. foreign currency in Moscow before the latest sanctions were. enforced, the rouble firmed 0.6% to 11.69, according to an. analysis of the OTC market.

It was down 0.3% at 92.50 against the euro.

Brent petroleum, a worldwide standard for Russia's. primary export, was down 0.1% at $82.34 a barrel due to weak demand. in China, the world's largest crude importer.

(source: Reuters)