| Foreign-currency purchases by Russia’s central bank will put a stop to the ruble’s world-beating rally, according to a Bloomberg survey of economists. Buying as much as $200 million a day to replenish reserves will halt gains in the ruble, 19 of 28 economists said. While reserves may swell to $380 billion this year, they’ll stay below the level they were when Russia annexed Crimea last March, a median of 25 estimates showed.
“The central bank has been putting the brakes on the ruble,” said Gunter Deuber, an analyst at Raiffeisen Bank International AG in Vienna. “The plan isn’t enough in volume terms to turn around the ruble FX market. However, it’s a strong signal to FX market participants that the central bank sees enough ruble appreciation for the time being.”..........................................Full Article: Source
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