Trade opens higher on MICEX

Most blue chips grew slightly at the opening of trade on the MICEX exchange today. YUKOS led the gainers having increased 2.58 percent. Only Norilsk Nickel was below the level of yesterday's closing (a 0.46-percent decrease).

The average weighted dollar exchange rate amounted to 29.27 RUS/USD at today's special session on tomorrow deals. This figure is RUR0.02 higher than the official dollar exchange rate set by the Central Bank for August 12. At the same time, even the low on deals did not drop below 29.27 RUR/USD and the high on deals was 29.28 RUR/USD. As such, the dollar has strengthened against the ruble today. The ruble has weakened against the dollar for a second day in a row. As reported earlier, the dollar gained RUR0.01 yesterday.

The absence of problems with ruble liquidity at commercial banks is contributing to the dollar's strengthening now. At present, one-day ruble credit rates amount to 2 to 3 percent, experts told RBC. Credit rates have been that low since the beginning of this month.