The ruble opened slightly weaker versus the U.S. dollar at market opening on Friday, after rallying strongly in the previous session.
At 0705 GMT the ruble was down 0.3 percent at 41.76 against the dollar, following a surprise rally on Thursday, when the Russian currency rose around 3 percent against the dollar.
Central Bank Shifts Boundaries of Floating Ruble by 35 Kopeks
Russia's Central Bank said Friday it had shifted the boundaries of its floating ruble corridor by 35 kopeks a day earlier, following market interventions to curb the pace of the currency's decline.
As of Oct. 30, the ruble's new trading band extended from 39.55 to 48.55 against a dollar-euro basket, compared with 39.20 to 48.20 previously.
Central Bank Spent $3 Billion to Defend Ruble
The Russian Central Bank said Friday it had conducted 125.08 billion rubles ($3 billion) worth of forex interventions to defend the ruble on Oct. 29.
The Central Bank releases its interventions data with a delay. The ruble has been sliding on falling oil prices, broad risk aversion towards Russia because of its role in the Ukraine crisis and demand for foreign currency from Russian firms shut out of international capital markets.
