"Most likely, we should expect the same tendencies that reigned in 2003. The rouble will grow stronger not only in real terms but also in nominal terms, though it is not very good for the Russian economy," said Potyomkin at the news conference in Moscow on Wednesday.
At the same time he believes that in the future the rouble will find itself in the family of the currencies "which are fluctuating around dollar and are not moving in a definite direction." The MISEX director also expects that in the second half of 2004 there will be changes in trends of the euro/dollar exchange rate, that is, the European currency will stop its growth with regard to the dollar. However, Alexander Potyomkin does not think that the euro and the dollar will return to parity. The Russian stockbroker believes that this may happen in a more remote future.