Unique-Russia’s VTB expects rouble to stabilise round 100/greenback, CEO says

MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Russian rouble will stabilise at round 100 to the U.S. greenback after the interval of volatility within the aftermath of U.S. sanctions on Russia’s monetary sector, CEO of Russia’s second largest lender Financial institution VTB Andrei Kostin instructed Reuters on Monday.

The Russian foreign money weakened by 15% towards the U.S. greenback after the USA sanctioned Gazprombank, which dealt with Russia’s vitality commerce with Europe and was a serious provider of international foreign money to the Russian market, on Nov. 22.

“In 2022, if you happen to bear in mind, the greenback reached as much as 120 roubles. A correction is already occurring, the greenback is barely above 100, and I believe it can stay at this degree,” Kostin mentioned.

Kostin mentioned that the share of the U.S. greenback property on VTB’s steadiness sheet has drastically decreased following Western sanctions.

“Beforehand, half of the financial institution’s steadiness sheet was in {dollars}, and each change charge motion had a major impression on us. However now we simply could not care much less,” Kostin mentioned.

“I perceive that exporters are happy (with the change charge soar following one other package deal of sanctions from the U.S. Treasury), whereas importers are usually not very completely happy, however to a big extent, that is an emotional outburst,” he added.