Putin confident in stable ruble; bank sets intervention limit

Russian President Vladimir Putin today expressed confidence the ruble, which has lost nearly a quarter of its value so far this year, would soon stabilise as the central bank said it would intervene only if "financial stability" was threatened.

The Russian strongman blamed speculation for the currency's volatility, insisting that it was "absolutely" no reflection of the country's economic situation.

"We can see speculative moves in the exchange rate, but I think that will end very soon, given the actions taken by the central bank in response to the speculators," said Putin in Beijing where he is attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)summit.

The Bank of Russia said Friday it was ready to step in to protect the crashing ruble, after the currency was hammered by a day of panic selling.

The ruble lost 10 percent in value last week alone amid plunging oil prices and the fallout from the Ukraine crisis.

Then today the central bank announced that it was removing the range it had fixed for the currency up to now and allowing it to evolve freely on the market.

But that "did not amount to a total renunciation of any interventions in the exchange markets, which would be possible in case a threat to financial stability appears," it said.

The Bank of Russia, which has been planning to shift to inflation targeting like central banks in the West, had progressively enlarged the range for the ruble thereby limiting its possible interventions over the past year.

But the ruble has fallen as Western sanctions on Russia over its role in the Ukraine crisis have led to a surge in capital flight from the country.

The Bank of Russia said in a statement Friday that it spent USD30 billion in October to keep the ruble afloat, vowing to spend more if needed "as well as use other financial instruments at its disposal."

The Russian currency on Monday morning climbed to 57.08 rubles for the euro and 45.76 rubles for the dollar.

"The financial authorities have taken all the necessary measures," said Putin on Monday.

He also said that they do not intend to impose capital controls after Western sanctions over Russia's role in the Ukraine crisis have led to a surge in capital flight from the country.

Beyond sanctions, the Russian currency has been hit hard by plunging oil prices, which are now at around $82 per barrel, almost 20 percent off the price Russia needs to shore up its public finances.