Ruble Bends to Putin’s Will in Nod to Wartime Election Economics
- Currency trading at strongest since July after weekslong surge
- Government reversed declines by imposing some capital controls
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A rally in the ruble that’s propelling it toward the strongest since July is the latest piece of Russia’s economic jigsaw to fall into place before a widely expected tilt by Vladimir Putin at another presidential term in March elections.
The currency’s reversal of fortunes since early October has brought it to around 90 per dollar, a level near to the average for next year forecast by the Economy Ministry. The recent appreciation was among the key factors that acted as a check on inflation, according to Bloomberg Economics, which now expects a slowdown after price growth likely peaked in September.