Russian ruble to strengthen positions soon – economy minister
The Russian ruble, which hit record lows against the US dollar and euro this week, will strengthen its positions in the near future, Russian Economic Development Minister Aleksey Ulyukaev said.
“The [ruble’s] exchange rate has long passed the price that
can be called the ‘equilibrium price.’ In this sense, I think
that the ruble really is oversold, and one can expect the ruble
to move in the opposite direction in the short term,”
Ulyukaev told journalists in Beijing, China, where he had arrived
for the 25th APEC summit.
The ruble reached a record low of 48.65 against the US dollar and
60.27 against the euro during trading Friday.
The rate then improved to 46.70 against the US dollar and 58.22
against the euro by the end of the day.
When asked if the Russian authorities are considering currency
controls due to the devaluation of the ruble, the minister
replied with a peremptory: “No.”
His answer echoed previous statements by Russian President
Vladimir Putin and Central Bank chief Elvira Nabiullina, who have
both said that there are no plans to impose currency controls.
Ulyukaev also backed the decision by the Central Bank to
introduce the floating exchange rate for the ruble in 2015,
despite the current problems experienced by the currency.
"There may be different tactics.That tactic, which is now applied
by the [Central Bank], is rational and must bring results,”
he said.
The current devaluation of the ruble won’t make a significant
contribution to the growth of Russia's GDP, as happened in 1998,
the minister said.
There will merely be a short-term stimulating effect due to
import substitution because the ruble expenses are increasing
competitiveness relative to imported goods.
“But one shouldn’t expect greater effect in the long
term” because – compared to 1998 – Russia has high
utilization capacity of 72 percent and a lack of unemployed labor
resources.
The minister also acknowledged that the inflation rate in Russia
in 2014 will exceed the forecasted 7.5 per cent.
“According to the latest data, we now have the inflation of
8.5 percent. It’s unlikely to be any less” by the end of the
year, he said.
