1/1/2015: Russian Reserves Down USD10.4bn in the Week of December 26th

CBR published data on Russia's foreign exchange reserves for last week (through December 26th), showing another drop in reserves to the tune of USD10.4 billion. So far, since the onset of the accelerated Ruble crisis, Russian FX reserves are down 26.1 billion. December total (excluding December 29-31) decline in reserves is now USD32 billion, which makes it the  worst month for FX losses since the January 2009 when Russia lost USD39.4 billion in reserves. December 2014 so far ranks as the third largest decline month for the entire period for which data is available (since January 1998).

Couple of charts to illustrate:

As of the end of last week, Russian External (Forex) Reserves stood at USD388.5 billion, down from USD420.5 billion in the last week of November. Since the beginning of the sanctions period (from the week of the Crimean Referendum) through the end of last week, Russian reserves are down substantial USD 98.1 billion, while from January 2014 through end of December 2014, the reserves are down approximately USD107 billion. At this rate, and accounting for varying degree of liquidity underlying the total reserves cited here, but omitting the reserves held by larger state-owned enterprises, by my estimates, Russia currently has roughly 18-20 months worth of liquid reserves available for cover of debt redemptions and unrelated forex demand.

27/8/2012: Mid-Term Forecasts for Russian Ruble: Capital Economics

An interesting view on the Russian ruble medium term outlook was published in the ECR weekly monitor arguing that as USD/Euro moves to dollar strengthening, we can expect devaluation of the ruble vis dollar by ca 10% over the coming 18 months. Liza Ermolenko, economist with Capital Economics, provided three core reasons for devaluation:

1. Expected intensification of the euro area crisis will likely weigh on Russian exports just as the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) is reducing market interventions in support of ruble and is aiming to widen the currency band. Monetary conditions are expected to stay relatively stable, according to Ermolenko, as fiscal spending will also remain constrained.
2. Deterioration in Russia's balance of payments due to fast growth in imports, and possible fall in oil prices to USD85 pb by the end of 2012. Capital Economics projects Russia's current account surplus to fall to 3.5% of GDP in 2012 from 5.5% in 2011, with a possibility of posting a small deficit in 2014.
3. Long term competitiveness is deteriorating in Russia, as the economy gave up productivity and cost competitiveness gains of 2008-2009 crisis period to higher inflation. "Real exchange rate [linked to consumer prices] is now back to where it was in mid-2008", according to Ermolenko.

So Ermolenko forecasts 5% decline in the ruble against the euro/dollar basket by the end of 2012 and a similar decline in 2013, with most of the decline driven by devaluation against the USD. Target is Rb35.5/USD by end-2012 and Rb38.5/USD by end-2013 from current Rb31.9/USD. Euro forecasts are for slight devaluation to Rb39.0/Euro by end-2012 followed by appreciation to Rb38.5/Euro by end-2013, compared to Rb39.4/Euro current.