At trading on the Moscow Exchange the US dollar broke its historic peak by reaching 54 rubles. The euro came close to the 67-ruble mark. The ruble continues to fall against the currency basket on the background of retreating oil prices and negative macro-forecasts by the Ministry of Economic Development.
The Ministry of Economic Development expects the Russian economy to enter recession in the first quarter of 2015, but in 2016 economic growth is possible, the Deputy Minister of Economic Development Alexei Vedev said on Tuesday. In the forecast of the Ministry the average dollar rate for 2015 is set at a level of 49 rubles, with oil prices for Urals at $80 per barrel.
Finance Minister Anton Siluanov later said that this forecast is too gloomy, and with a price of $80 per barrel the dollar should be below 45 rubles, Interfax reports. According to him, the forecast of the Economic Development Ministry should not be considered as the agreed position of the government, that this is a preliminary assessment and it will be discussed.
