Ruble Sinks to Historic Low Against Currency Basket

File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – September 29, 2014) The ruble sunk to a record low against the Central Bank’s currency basket Monday, continuing a steady slide that has seen it lose over 15 percent of its value this year.

The Russian currency dropped during morning trading and was worth 44.37 against the euro-dollar basket shortly after midday, its lowest level since the benchmark was introduced in 2005.

Monday morning also saw the ruble fall to a new low against the dollar and reach its weakest point against the euro since March when Russia annexed the Ukrainian region of Crimea.

At 12:35 a dollar was worth 36.58 rubles and a euro 50.21 rubles, according to data from the Moscow Exchange.

Russia’s Central Bank is committed to intervening on currency markets if the ruble reaches the upper limit of its trading corridor, which currently stands at 44.4 rubles to the currency basket.

The ruble has been driven lower this year amid international tensions over Ukraine, Western sanctions against Russia and a slipping oil price.

 

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