The Russian currency is losing ground. During today's trading on the Moscow Stock Exchange, the ruble has fallen in price by 15 kopecks against the dollar and by 1 kopeck to the euro. At the moment, 57.76 rubles are given for 1 "green" on the exchange, for a unit of European currency - 70.68 rubles. On the eve of the ruble also fell in price. As a result, the Central Bank of Russia lowered the official exchange rate of the US dollar to the ruble by 26.63 kopecks - to 56.9533 rubles. The official euro to ruble rate was set at around 70.531 rubles, which is 39.84 kopecks lower than the previous day. The ruble could not withstand a strong external onslaught and lost its stability. The exchange rate of the national currency went down against the background of the general strengthening of the US currency and cheap oil. "The US dollar resumed growth on investors' expectations of a fall in US stock indices, as well as higher yields on US bonds. An additional "bullish" impetus was given to him by another extension of the government's financing until March 23, "the Alpari company notes.. As for oil, the barrel of the North Sea blend of Brent fell in price by 2%, to $ 65.13, after data from the United States unexpectedly pointed to the growth of oil, oil products and production. The pressure on the ruble was so strong that investors ignored the successful auctions of the RF Ministry of Finance for the sale of federal loan bonds.

The agency placed two issues of securities worth 35 billion rubles with aggregate demand of 134.88 billion rubles. However, despite this, the Russian currency did not increase in price. Break the trend of the ruble is unlikely to succeed. Oil on world markets continues to fall in price, as investors close long transactions on news about the growth of stocks in the US. If the "black gold" falls below $ 64 for the "barrel", the price reduction will continue to $ 60. According to the head of the analytical department of Dominion-World Stanislav Werner, the prospects for the ruble are heavily influenced by the situation with the state debt of the United States. A long-term decision to raise the upper limit of the national debt has not yet been made, which makes investors nervous. The limit can be exceeded by the end of February. If it is not increased, the United States will be forced to declare a default. Such a situation arises every year, but every time it ends safely for the American economy - the ceiling is raised. "Any delay in the payment of coupon payments can deprive the US of the highest rating agency Fitch, which can trigger a global risk reassessment. But Washington is well aware that a downgrade or a technical default could lead to a reduction in the hegemony of the US dollar and the US in the world, so politicians are obliged to agree and agree, "- says the expert" Rossiyskaya Gazeta ".

However, for now, nervousness remains, as democrats and Republicans are severely disunited, and the negotiations are moving with a creak. "In the absence of progress in discussions on extending the financing of the work of the government and raising the limit of the US public debt, we can face a strong strengthening of the dollar and the yen as safe havens," Werner said.. In this case, the ruble can greatly depreciate and update local minima relative to the major world currencies.