Feverish fluctuations in the exchange rate remained in the past.
The ruble found firm ground underfoot and began to strengthen, thanks to positive external factors. In the very near future new peaks can be submitted to him. On Wednesday, April 18, at the Moscow Stock Exchange, the ruble strengthened against major world currencies. The value of the dollar fell by 70 kopecks, to 60.85 rubles, the euro fell by 84 kopecks, to 75.25 rubles. At the opening of today's trading, the Russian currency continued to grow, and the euro rate for the first time since April 10 dropped below 75 rubles. But then the trend turned around: at 10:39 Moscow time the dollar gained 5 kopecks (60.9 rubles), the euro - 21 kopecks (75.46 rubles).
But the whole struggle is yet to come. The main factor in the strengthening of the ruble is a certain lull not to the geopolitical front. The US suspended the introduction of new sanctions against the Russian Federation in connection with the situation in Syria. Many perceived this as a signal that the West would make an attempt to agree with our country. This development of events allowed investors to calm down and pull themselves together. After that, purely economic indicators came to the fore. First of all, the price of oil. The day before they continued to grow, especially after the US Department of Energy announced a reduction in crude oil and petroleum products. "Oil overcame technical resistance at $ 72 per barrel and currently trades above $ 73, which supports commodity currencies," - explained the head of the analytical department of the Grand Capital Sergei Kozlovsky. According to him, if "the oil growth continues this week, it will allow the ruble to win back some of the previously lost positions". Foreign investors are again waking up interest in Russian debt securities. On Wednesday, the RF Ministry of Finance placed federal loan bonds for 13 billion rubles. One auction failed, but the second demand exceeded the supply three times. The attractiveness of this asset again increases. If Washington does not impose a ban on their purchase, buyers will line up for government bonds. This will allow the ruble to strengthen its positions. Additional support for the ruble, but next week will start the tax period.
As a result, the value of the US dollar may fall below 60 rubles. In the meantime, the national currency will try to gain a foothold on the achieved positions. "For ruble pairs, consolidation should be expected at current levels. It should take at least a week for market participants to assess the risks from investing in Russian assets. Today, with the greatest probability, the dollar and euro exchange rates will remain traded at previously reached levels or very close to them, "believes Alpari analyst Vladislav Antonov.