The official rate of the Belarusian ruble for 18 April 2011 has strengthened against a basket of foreign currencies, as well as the euro and the Russian ruble. This is illustrated by the National Bank. The Belarusian ruble has grown by 0.04% in relation to the previous settings. Nevertheless, the exchange rate has decreased by 7.57% compared with December 31, 2010.
The official euro rate has fallen by 0.02% to Br4.424.18, the Russian ruble — by 0.11% to Br108.15. Dollar exchange rate has not changed. The dollar has risen by 1.73% against December 31, 2010, Russian ruble — by 9.86%, Euro — 11.37%.
«I think that this change of courses is related to efforts to lower the rate of the euro, which recently hits records. Strengthening of the ruble against a basket of currencies is most likely to have been caused by rounding the changed courses,» said Belarusian economist Sergei Chaly.
He also did not connect growth of the official exchange rate with the rising of the rate up to 13%. «I do not think it’s somehow connected. In terms of inflation, which has exceeded 7% for a few months, 1% change in the refinancing rate has no effect either,» said the expert.
As Telegraf previously reported, the refinancing rate of the National Bank of Belarus will amount to 13% per annum from April 20, 2011. The corresponding decree № 127 of April 11 was accepted by the Board of the National Bank, taking into account the emerging inflation, reported in the information department of the bank of the country.
