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Rouble

The Ruble's Unlikely Triumph: What's Driving It?The early months of 2025 have seen the Russian Ruble emerge as the world's top-performing currency, achieving a significant appreciation against the US dollar. This unexpected rally is largely attributed to robust domestic economic measures. Faced with persistent inflation exceeding 10%, the Central Bank of Russia implemented a stringent monetary policy, raising the key interest rate to a high of 21%. This aggressive stance not only aims to curb price growth but also makes the Ruble highly attractive to foreign investors seeking elevated yields through carry trade strategies, thereby increasing demand for the currency. Furthermore, a healthy trade surplus, marked by increased exporter conversion of foreign earnings, has bolstered the Ruble's supply-demand dynamics. Beyond internal economics, shifting geopolitical perceptions have played a vital role. Growing market anticipation of a potential ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict has notably reduced the perceived political risk associated with Russian assets. This improved sentiment encourages some international investors to return cautiously to Russian markets. Concurrently, a weakening trend in the US dollar, influenced by evolving US trade policies, has amplified the Ruble's relative strength on the global stage. Strategically, Russia's ongoing efforts to decrease its reliance on the US dollar are also providing underlying support for the Ruble. Initiatives promoting trade settlements in national currencies, such as recent agreements enabling Ruble payments with Cuba, reflect a long-term pivot towards establishing alternative financial channels. However, this Ruble strength presents challenges, particularly for the state budget heavily dependent on converting dollar-denominated oil revenues. A stronger Ruble yields fewer domestic funds, potentially straining finances, especially amidst volatile global oil prices. The balancing act between maintaining high rates to control inflation and mitigating their impact on domestic credit and investment remains a critical consideration for policymakers.
Long
by UDIS_View
Russian Gold purchase.Horizontal line is the current price which the state of russia has declared that they will purchase essentially infinite gold using roubles. This chart should suffice to prove over time where the price of gold is in relation and whether that deal is ongoing or has ceased. I think this is not a true peg, or a gold backing as some have declared, but actually a limit order for a near infinite amount of gold at 5000 rub per gram. I will not be buying either gold or roubles, but I am interested in this and would like to publish it so I and others can see how it goes as time progresses.
TVC:GOLD
by FlyTheElephant
Will importers cave into Putin’s gas for Rubles demand?In what is widely seen as an attempt to circumvent Western sanctions and prop up the Russian ruble, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently required “unfriendly” buyers of the country’s natural gas to pay in rubles, a move that could have far-reaching implications on global oil and energy supply. "I have decided to implement a set of measures to transfer payment for our gas supplies to unfriendly countries into Russian rubles,” news outlets quoted Putin as saying in a government meeting last week, adding that Russia would turn down payments for natural-gas supplies in currencies “that have compromised themselves,” including dollars and euros. Putin has given the Russian central bank and gas suppliers like Gazprom, Rosneft and Lukoil a week to implement the change. Why is Putin pushing for ruble payments? Russia’s decision came as the country’s oil trade has been left in disarray as importers put orders on hold amid a wide condemnation of the Kremlin’s attacks on Ukraine. Since the war broke out over a month ago, concerns of a global energy crisis intensified, sending pump prices skyrocketing to record highs and fanning global inflation fears. Economic sanctions imposed by the US and its Western allies have also caused the Russian ruble to fall to record lows in the early weeks since the war started, further weakening the Russian economy. Putin’s latest move sent the ruble to its strongest in nearly a month against the US dollar last week, although it was still down ~25% this year as of Monday, March 28, at ~106 against the dollar. Will importers cave in? Russia supplies nearly 40% of the European Union’s natural gas and over 25% of the region’s crude oil. Although the global oil cartel known as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other non-OPEC oil-exporting nations played down concerns of a global oil shortage as the war drags on, many industry players fear a potential demand destruction that could cause oil demand to peak and fall when pump prices become too expensive. To reinstate the balance in oil supply and demand especially during wintertime in Europe, EU-based importers of Russian oil could then choose to yield to Putin’s demands and pay in rubles. However, EU leaders, shortly after Putin’s announcement, stood firm and rejected the Kremlin’s demands, with Slovenia Prime Minister Janez Jansa saying “nobody will pay in rubles,” Bloomberg News reported. The message was backed by leaders of Ireland, Italy, Croatia, and Germany, among others, ahead of a summit meeting in Brussels. The leaders stressed that Putin’s demand would be in violation of their existing contracts. Adding to Putin’s woes is US President Joe Biden’s pledge to deliver 15 billion cubic meters of liquified natural gas to Europe this year on top of the shipments that are already on their way to Europe. The probability of EU importers caving into Russia’s demands are also looking less likely as the EU steps up its efforts to discontinue buying Russian gas before 2030. Faster transition to renewable energy sources Instead of a far-reaching energy crisis that many fear could come out of the Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions against Russia and the Kremlin’s countersanctions could accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources. Europe could speed up the construction of LNG terminals across the continent to store LNG deliveries from allies including the US. Agora Energiewende, a German think-tank, suggests a 32% reduction in Europe’s gas consumption by 2027 if the continent slashes its use of fossil fuels and transition to wind and solar energy in the next five years. This measure could save the EU between 127 billion euros and 318 billion euros on gas imports, the think-tank said. Scaling up renewable energy in the EU could allow the continent to avoid 80% of today’s Russian gas imports by 2027, Agora Energiewende added.
by BlackBull_Markets
Russian government and corporate bonds about to default.Before the war Russian reserves amounted to 630 billion USD, a conservative estimate puts them to this date @ around 500 billion USD. Every day that the war lingers on, costs russias coffers 15 to 20 billion USD. This is not considering the additional sanctions and exclusion from the banking system slapped on Russia this weekend. Following the debacle of the Russian army in the Kharkiv region and the complete surrender of their troops in this region, Putin ordered to ramp up the use of heavy equipment and to send more troops and equipment to try and conquer the city. This will considerably increase the cost of the war for Russia. Also, this debacle is likely to trigger a wave of cancellations of orders for Russian military hardware, which has proven its self ineffective, specially after the downing of a SU35 (Russias top fighter jet) by a Ukranian SU22. Russia, home to 140 million needs 200 billion USD to ensure the population doesn't starve. At this rate, they will reach this threshold within 10 days, absent of a victory. Also, must be noted that a political victory is now impossible for Russia which was its primary objective for starting this war. Tomorrow the markets will open and within a few days the future of Russia will be decided by its ability to raise cash. The charts suggest these are out of the window and hedge funds may be placing their bets on a total Russian default.
RUS:RGBI
by csmottola71
1
Big Russian long is comingRussian equities look really good at the end of 2020 & 2021-2025! We take into account declining dxy and rising em currencies, sector rotation and increasing demand for commodities in china, with a favorable pace of capex L-shaped recovery in the energy sector... we also expect reduction of political risks in Russia more, than in other em... the recovery of the Russian economy after the 2008 crisis was frozen in 2014 due to the "sanctions wars"... - in the context of the end of the pandemic and the change in the socio-political paradigm.., we expect the growth of Russian economy (next 8 years) and the growth of equities (next 5 years)...
INDEX:RTSILong
by MITCapital
1