The Russian ruble strengthened to levels not seen since March 2018 against the dollar on Tuesday, boosted by export-focused companies selling foreign currency to pay taxes and shrugging off a slight easing of capital controls.
The ruble has firmed about 30 percent against the dollar this year despite a full-scale economic crisis in Russia, making it the world’s best-performing currency.
The ruble is steered by capital controls imposed in late February to shield Russia’s financial sector after Moscow’s decision to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine prompted unprecedented Western sanctions.
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At 1110 GMT, the ruble was 2.5 percent stronger against the dollar at 56.36, hovering around this level for the first time in more than four years.
Against the euro, the ruble gained 3 percent to 58.24, its strongest in seven years.
“The ruble’s sharp gains again owed to tomorrow’s looming deadline for 600 billion rubles ($10.43 billion) in mineral extraction tax payments and the conversion of payment for gas exports into rubles,” Sberbank CIB said in a note.
“We think the local currency may have trouble prolonging its recent rally, as selling activity among exporters may begin to decline.”
The currency’s strength has raised concerns about the negative impact on Russia’s budget revenue from exports. On Monday, Russia cut the proportion of foreign currency revenue that exporters must convert into rubles to 50 percent from 80 percent.
Despite the slight relaxation in capital controls, the ruble could firm to 55 against the dollar in the near term, said Dmitry Polevoy, head of investment at LockoInvest.
“Current levels could be used to open long positions in foreign currencies by mid- and long-term investors,” Polevoy said.
The ruble may return to levels of 60-65 against the dollar in June, Sinara Investment Bank said in a note.
The ruble was weaker at banks. Russia’s largest lender Sberbank offered to sell cash dollars and euros for 58.20 and 60.38 rubles, respectively.
Russian stock indexes were mixed.
The dollar-denominated RTS index reversed earlier losses and gains 1 percent to 1,267.1 points. The ruble-based MOEX Russian index was 1.6 percent lower at 2,265.5 points, pressured by the ruble gains.
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