Russian Rouble Weakens After Trump-Putin Call 

A woman walks outside the Kremlin on a sunny day in Moscow, Russia, 18 March 2025. (EPA)
A woman walks outside the Kremlin on a sunny day in Moscow, Russia, 18 March 2025. (EPA)
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Russian Rouble Weakens After Trump-Putin Call 

A woman walks outside the Kremlin on a sunny day in Moscow, Russia, 18 March 2025. (EPA)
A woman walks outside the Kremlin on a sunny day in Moscow, Russia, 18 March 2025. (EPA)

The Russian rouble interrupted its rally and weakened against both the US dollar and China's yuan on Wednesday following a conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that focused on the war in Ukraine.

In the telephone call, Putin agreed to stop attacking Ukrainian energy facilities temporarily but declined to endorse a full 30-day ceasefire that Trump had hoped would be the first step toward a permanent peace deal.

By 0840 GMT, the rouble was down 1.3% at 82.80 against the dollar in the over-the-counter market. Against the Chinese yuan, the rouble was down 1.2% at 11.36 in trade on the Moscow Stock Exchange (MOEX).

The Russian currency hit its strongest levels against both the dollar and the yuan since June 2024 this week. It is up 27% against the dollar so far this year on expectations of easing tensions between Russia and the United States.

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday that a return of foreign investors to the Russian market and resulting capital inflows played a role in the rouble rally.

"We are also observing an inflow of foreign capital into the domestic market, taking into account the geopolitical situation," Novak was quoted in the Russian media as saying.

The stronger rouble is helping the central bank fight inflation, its main headache. However, it is also dealing a blow to exporting companies as well as state budget revenues, which depend heavily on oil and gas exports that are traded in dollars.

Denis Popov from PSB bank noted that Novak's statement was the first official confirmation of capital inflows taking place as international investors begin to eye Russian assets again, creating the potential for further strengthening of the rouble.

"Considering that the end of March should see an increase in currency sales by exporters, the risks of further strengthening of the rouble are very high," Popov said.



US Treasury Chief Dismisses Moody’s Downgrade amid Trump Tax Cut Debate

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a news conference in Geneva on May 12, 2025, to give details of "substantial progress" following a two-day closed-door meeting between US and China top officials aimed at ending a devastating tariff war. (AFP)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a news conference in Geneva on May 12, 2025, to give details of "substantial progress" following a two-day closed-door meeting between US and China top officials aimed at ending a devastating tariff war. (AFP)
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US Treasury Chief Dismisses Moody’s Downgrade amid Trump Tax Cut Debate

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a news conference in Geneva on May 12, 2025, to give details of "substantial progress" following a two-day closed-door meeting between US and China top officials aimed at ending a devastating tariff war. (AFP)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a news conference in Geneva on May 12, 2025, to give details of "substantial progress" following a two-day closed-door meeting between US and China top officials aimed at ending a devastating tariff war. (AFP)

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday dismissed Moody's downgrade of the US sovereign credit rating, as the Republican-controlled Congress tried to push ahead on President Donald Trump's sweeping tax-cut bill.

Bessent, in a pair of television interviews, said the bill's provisions extending the 2017 tax cuts passed under Trump's first term would spur economic growth that would outpace what the nation owed, even as nonpartisan analysts warn the measure it would add trillions to the federal government's $36.2 trillion in debt.

"I don't put much credence in the Moody's" downgrade, Bessent told CNN's "State of the Union" program.

The House of Representatives Budget Committee on Friday rejected the bill, with a handful of Republican hardliners saying they were concerned it did not sufficiently cut spending.

House Speaker Mike Johnson separately said on Sunday the chamber is still "on track" to pass the bill. The committee is set to try again in a rare Sunday night hearing, set to begin at 10 p.m. ET (0200 GMT Monday).

"We've had lots of conversations. We'll have more today," Johnson said on "Fox News with Shannon Bream" when asked about hard-line Republicans Chip Roy and Ralph Norman demanding more spending cuts.

Congressional Republicans in 2017 also argued that the tax cuts would pay for themselves by stimulating economic growth. But the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the changes increased the federal deficit by just under $1.9 trillion over a decade, even when including positive economic effects.