Russian rouble soars to more than four-month high past 89 vs dollar
Updates at 0901 GMT
MOSCOW, May 27 (Reuters) -The Russian rouble leapt toa more than four-month high past 89 to the dollar on Monday as the peak of a favourable month-tax period approached, with underlying support from capital controls,high interest rates and state forex sales.
By 0901 GMT, the rouble RUBUTSTN=MCX was 1.1% higher at 88.53 tothe dollar, earlier reaching 88.32, its strongest point since Jan. 24.
The rouble also reached four-month highs againstthe euro, EURRUBTN=MCX rising1.2% to 96.19, and the yuan, gaining 0.9%to 12.18 CNYRUBTOM=MCX.
Month-end tax payments that usually see exporters convert foreign currency revenues to meet local liabilities tend to support the rouble.
But the Russian currency is likely return towards 90 to the dollar after the peak of tax payments on Tuesday, Bank St Petersburg analysts said.
Capital controls introduced by presidential decree in October 2023 require dozens of undisclosed exporting firms to deposit a high percentage of foreign currency earnings with Russian banks and then sell most of those proceeds on the domestic market. The controls were extended by a year at the end of April.
The Russian state has also sharply increased its foreign currency sales this month.
Brent crude oil LCOc1, a global benchmark for Russia's main export, rose 0.3%to $82.35 a barrel.
Russian stock indexes fell. The dollar-denominated RTS index .IRTS fell 0.3%to 1,185.0 points. The rouble-based MOEX Russian index .IMOEX lost 1.3% to 3,463.9 points.
Russia's stock market is under pressure from expectations that interest rates will remain at 16% for a long time or even that the central bank could hike rates to 17% at its next meeting on June 7, Sinara Investment Bank analysts said.
Reporting by Alexander Marrow;
Editing by Alison Williams and Andrew Heavens
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