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Rouble compromises against dollar as Kursk attack stimulates some forex purchases

The Russian rouble weakened further against the dollar on Friday, according to LSEG and Moscow stock market information, with some traders saying that Ukraine's surprise attack in Russia's Kursk area was one of the aspects behind the fall.

Trading in major currencies shifted to the over-the-counter ( OTC) market, obscuring rates information, after Western sanctions on the Moscow Exchange and its clearing agent, the National Clearing Centre, were presented on July 12.

By 1130 GMT the rouble was 2.7% down at 89.00 against the dollar, according to LSEG information, which can function as a guide for OTC rates. One-day rouble-dollar futures, which still trade on the Moscow Exchange, were down 0.8% at 86.44.

However, some traders stated that in the actual OTC market, controlled by sanctioned Russian banking giants such as Sberbank , the rouble's moves were more moderate, with Sberbank bidding at 85.00 to the dollar.

Russian forces are fighting Ukrainian soldiers for a 4th day after they smashed through the border in the Kursk region in among the most significant Ukrainian attacks on Russia considering that the war started in February 2022.

Maybe this is a warranted factor, for instance, for foreign banks staying in Russia to buy currency, stated a. dealership at a big Russian bank. The rouble has been on a. weakening streak considering that the attack began.

The rouble was anticipated to receive support this week from. increased net day-to-day sales of foreign currency by the main. bank and the financing ministry that went into impact on Aug. 7.

Kursk shattered market expectations that interventions. would suffice to support the rouble, the trader added.

Another trader, who spoke on condition of privacy, stated. that some importing companies were likewise hoarding foreign. currency as the rates ended up being attractive after deteriorating in July.

According to an analysis of the OTC market, the rouble was. down just 0.3% to 11.91 against the yuan, which has become the. most traded foreign currency in Moscow.

It was down 1.9% at 96.53 versus the euro.

Brent crude oil, a worldwide standard for Russia's. main export, was up 0.6% at $79.63 a barrel and was heading for. a weekly gain of more than 3% as U.S. jobs data relaxed demand. issues.

(source: Reuters)