Russia: Rouble held back by settlement

The news that spot rouble trades have taken place electronically on EBS and LavaFX between Russian and foreign banks has been taken by some observers as proof that the currency has taken a significant step towards full convertibility. However, the deals mask the fact that Russia’s settlement system is still a real impediment to the rouble’s wider acceptance and is harming the government’s hopes that it will one day be accepted as a reserve currency.

Darryl Hooker, Icap

“Russia has ambitions to become a G8 and reserve currency. We have serious doubts about this aim unless Russia reforms its settlement system. The issue is not a technological one but a political one”
Darryl Hooker, Icap

Rouble moves mainstream

Euromoney March 2007

Market participants are keen to address the settlement problem. “At the start of the year, we met with the Russian central bank and discussed settlement. This is seen by many as the biggest issue in the market,” says Darryl Hooker, emerging market manager at Icap Electronic Broking.

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