Russian households’ net foreign currency demand at new record Dec

MOSCOW, Feb 12 (PRIME) -- The net demand, or the difference between demand and supply for foreign currency from Russian households, soared to U.S. $4.3 billion in December from $1.19 billion in November, a record high since January 2009, the central bank said in a statement Wednesday.

“In December 2013, ahead of the New Year holidays households’ activity on the market was traditionally higher. At the same time households boosted the volumes of rubles conversion into foreign currency with the aim of saving money against the background of expectations of a further ruble weakening against core international currencies,” the bank said.

Local banks raised foreign currency imports to $3.7 billion from $1.4 billion a month earlier.

The amount of foreign currency taken out of the country fell 52% to $400 million in December.

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