Friday 30 January 2015

Russia Reduces Interest Rates From 17% to 15%

Russia has cut its main interest rate from 17% to 15% because inflation "is stabilising".  The rouble fell by more than 2% against the dollar following the central bank announcement.

Russia's economy has been suffering for a range of reasons, including economic sanctions by the West over its involvement in the crisis in Ukraine.

This week the government said it would put measures in place to try to stave off an economic crisis.

The measures included investing at least 2.34 trillion roubles ($35bn, £23bn) in the economy, following a collapse in oil prices and the rouble. Rouble trouble

The rouble fell around 2.4% against the dollar on the news, leaving the dollar worth more than 70 roubles.  Against the pound, the rouble was trading around 3% down.

The halving over the past year of energy prices has hit Russia's income.

The government relies on oil and gas for half its tax revenue and needs the price of a barrel to be at $100 to balance its books, rather than the $50 it is currently.

The value of the rouble has plummeted pretty much in tandem, with the weaker currency making imports more expensive.

That has pushed up Russia's inflation rate to 9%, despite the lower price of energy, which would usually bring down the overall inflation rate, as can indeed by seen in Friday's eurozone inflation figures. BBC

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