Central Bank buys $100m on currency market

The weighted average dollar exchange rate on tomorrow deals amounted to 28.79 RUR/USD at a special session at 11:30 Moscow time today. It means that the official dollar rate for January 21 will be RUR0.01 lower. Commercial bank dealers point out that the activity of participants increased after the first 60 minutes of trade at the UTS, which was due to growth in the supply of dollars. According to specialists, banks sold US currency in large lots; the average lot was almost $3m. As a result, the trade volume amounted to $96m in the first 90 minutes of the special session. Yesterday, less than $35m were sold by this time.

The Russian Central Bank accelerated the selling of US currency amid the increased supply of dollars to prevent the ruble's strengthening, experts say. According to their estimations, the Central Bank bought about $100m this morning. Yesterday, the Central Bank purchased about $100m to $150m at a special session for tomorrow deals, analysts added.

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