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Empresas y finanzas

Russian ruble firms before Putin news conference


    MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian ruble firmed at opening on Thursday before President Vladimir Putin's end-of-year news conference, expected to be dominated by the currency's dramatic decline this year.

    At 0705 GMT (02:05 a.m. EST), the ruble was 2.8 percent firmer against the dollar at 58.00 after opening more than 1 percent higher. The ruble was also 4.1 percent stronger versus the euro at 72.00 .

    Market participants have been encouraged by a rise in oil prices, additional measures by the central bank to ensure financial stability and a statement that Russia's top oil producer is able to meet a looming debt repayment.

    (Reporting by Lidia Kelly, Editing by Timothy Heritage)