As 2009 came to an end, Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin revealed plans for the country's government to move towards a floating rouble exchange rate. Chatting to reporters in Vladivostok, Putin suggested the economy is not currently ready for a free rouble float.
"We will not do anything to shake up the market," he confirmed, adding: [...]

The Russian unemployment rate rose to a four-month high in November, while retail sales fell 1.3 per cent from October. The latter marked the first monthly decline since April, though analysts note that the figures fell at a slower annual pace since a strong rouble made imports cheaper and stimulated household spending.
Further data from [...]

Higher oil prices and indications of ongoing energy demand in China saw Russia's rouble firm over one per cent against its euro-dollar basket today.
Analysts noted a shift in the "risk tone" as concern over Dubai's debt crisis eased, while a rise in emerging equities was also recorded.
The rouble gained 1.3 per cent against its euro-dollar [...]

The price of crude oil dropped below $78 dollar a barrel on Wednesday (2nd December), prompting the rouble to fall to its weakest level of the week. It closed at 36.0044 roubles versus the dollar-euro currency basket.
An unexpected build in US crude stocks brought on the dip in oil's value, and it came on the [...]

Russia's central bank lent all of the five billion roubles it had available to commercial banks this week, providing three-month, collateral-free loans at an average rate of 13 per cent.
Introduced last October, the regulator's loans are intended to help increase liquidity in Russia's banking system.
Banks in the country bid for more than 15 billion roubles [...]

Increasing investor aversion to emerging market risks saw the rouble fall to a two-month low this morning, with all eyes now turned to the Russan central bank to take more action to curb the slump.
While the rouble eased as far as 35.65 versus a euro-dollar basket yesterday, marking its weakest position since late October, it [...]

Interest rates in Russia have been cut to a record low of nine per cent by the central bank, in a move aimed at slowing rouble appreciation and supporting the country's economic recovery.
Taking effect tomorrow, the cut by 50 basis points marks the ninth time the central bank has made a rate reduction since April.
In [...]

The weakening rouble, coupled with higher interest expenses, led profits at Russian fixed-line telecoms operator Comstar to drop over a quarter between July and September, it has emerged.
According to data released by the company, which has given a more bullish outlook for revenue growth in rouble terms, net profit in 2009's third quarter fell by [...]

The rouble's gains since the beginning of September surpassed ten per cent this week, as the currency set a 10-month high of 28.89 against the dollar.
Analysts have attributed the rouble's continuing rally to investors' enthusiasm about cashing in on high oil prices and demand from exporters looking to pay month-end taxes.
The central bank bought [...]

Amid another strong week for the rouble, Russian officials have revealed the country's industrial output for September was up 5.1 per cent from August.
The government treated the news cautiously, noting that companies' finances need to improve and domestic demand must be revived to ensure the progress is sustainable.
Andrei Klepach, Russia's deputy economy minister, said clearing [...]