Bank of Russia lowers official dollar, euro and yuan rates for weekend

The Bank of Russia set the dollar at 84.9048 roubles, the euro at 94.9745 and the yuan at 12.6739. The rates apply from October 10 through the weekend and Monday, October 12.

The new figures appear on the Bank of Russia's website. Compared with Friday, October 9, the dollar fell from 85.4173 to 84.9048 roubles, the euro from 95.4709 to 94.9745 and the yuan from 12.7320 to 12.6739. The respective decreases were 51.25, 49.64 and 5.81 kopecks.

An official exchange rate is a reference for calculations and differs from the price of an individual trade or a bank's currency exchange offer. It is used, among other purposes, in settlement for certain Moscow Exchange derivatives. The published figures should therefore not be treated as guaranteed retail buying or selling prices.

RBC also reported analysts' assessments of the rouble's outlook. Alfa-Capital senior trader Vladislav Silaev cited high oil prices, export receipts and restrained imports under high interest rates as supporting factors. He said proposed EU sanctions could affect payment arrangements and the timing of foreign currency receipts.

PSB analyst Bogdan Zvarich expects exporters to increase foreign currency supply in the second half of the month. He forecasts that this could take the yuan below the 12.5–13 rouble range. Importer demand after China's holidays and purchases under the budget rule could, meanwhile, support demand for foreign currency.

Pervaya senior analyst Natalia Vashchelyuk also links potential rouble gains to currency sales ahead of tax payments. The firm's forecast for the following week envisages 84–86 roubles per dollar, 12.5–12.9 per yuan and 94–97 per euro. Those are expert projections, rather than future rates announced by the regulator.