MOSCOW, March 4 (Reuters) –The Russian rouble strengthened against the dollar on Monday, regaining some of the ground lost late last week, under pressure at the start of the month as exporters reduced the supply of foreign currency.
At 0713 GMT, the rouble was 0.3% stronger against the dollar at 91.38 RUBUTSTN=MCX and had lost 0.3% to trade at 99.16 versus the euro EURRUBTN=MCX. It had firmed 0.2% against the yuan to 12.64 CNYRUBTOM=MCX.
The rouble could weaken towards 92.5 against the dollar, having now lost the support of month-end tax payments that usually see exporters convert foreign currency revenue to pay local liabilities, said Bogdan Zvarich of Banki.ru.
The Russian currency had strengthened to 90.5 late last week before depreciating.
Brent crude oil LCOc1, a global benchmark for Russia’s main export, was down 0.1% at $83.47 a barrel.
Russian stock indexes were higher.
The dollar-denominated RTS index .IRTS was up 0.9% to 1,132.6 points. The rouble-based MOEX Russian index .IMOEX was 0.6% higher at 3,285.9 points.
For Russian equities guide see RU/EQUITY
For Russian treasury bonds see 0#RUTSY=MM
Reporting by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Christopher Cushing
