LONDON (AFP) – The ruble reached a 14-month low against the dollar and major equity markets slid yesterday after an aborted weekend mutiny in Russia that stoked concerns about stability in the nuclear-armed country.
While the advance by the Wagner mercenary force led by Yevgeny Prigozhin was called off before it reached Moscow, it also added to unease on trading floors, where investors last week reversed a recent rally in stocks owing to concerns about ever-rising interest rates aimed at fighting stubbornly-high inflation.
The ruble hit 85.37 to the dollar – a level last seen in April 2022. The ruble went on to recover slightly yesterday. The dollar was down against the euro, pound and haven yen. Gold, also a refuge investment, jumped about half-a-per-cent in value.
Oil prices rose as Russia is a major producer, but concern about demand owing to the impact of rate rises kept gains limited, while futures for European natural gas jumped.
Wagner mercenaries returned to their base on Sunday after Putin agreed to allow Prigozhin to avoid treason charges and accept exile in neighbouring Belarus. The agreement halted an escalation of the crisis but observers warned that markets were susceptible to any further instability in Russia.
“Even though the Prigozhin mutiny may not cause larger market movements directly, this could quickly change depending on how the political situation in Russia unfolds in coming months,” Erik Meyersson, at SEB AB, said. “Markets will likely become more sensitive to internal political matters in Russia.”
Investors were also keeping tabs on comments from Federal Reserve officials, hoping for clarity on their monetary policy plans after boss Jerome Powell last week warned interest rates would likely keep rising.
His comments dealt a blow to hopes the bank had come to the end of its tightening cycle, and came as authorities elsewhere announced further hikes.
There is a growing worry among investors that the tightening cycle around the world could hammer the global economy, with the eurozone already in recession.
There is also a focus on China and leaders’ support plans for the world’s number two economy as its recovery from years of zero-Covid restrictions falters.
