The Russian rouble extended gains in early Moscow trade on Thursday, supported by month-end tax payments that led to increased conversion of foreign currency into roubles, while stock indexes posted solid gains.
Movements on the Russian market are partly artificial as the rouble is propped up by capital controls, while stocks are trading with a ban on short selling and with foreign players being barred from ditching shares in Russian companies without permission.
At 07:37 GMT, the rouble was 0.3 percent stronger against the dollar at 72.59 after hitting 72 in light trade on the Moscow Exchange. Against the euro, it hit 74.3525, a level last seen in early March 2020 before retreating to trade 0.5 percent softer at 75.75.
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