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
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)
