In 2006, capital inflow to Russia totaled $41.5 billion, including $31 billion in direct foreign investment.
President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month the figure was the result of the full liberalization of the Russian foreign exchange market, adding Russia's stock market capitalization reached $1 trillion.
But a Finance Ministry official said earlier the record high level of capital inflow into Russia in 2006 will be difficult to maintain this year.
"In 2006, we witnessed record high net private capital inflow into the Russian economy, which stood at $41.5 billion," said Alexei Savatyugin, head of the ministry's financial policy department. "Maintaining such an impressive capital inflow level this year will be rather difficult."
Savatyugin said ruble appreciation was also expected to slow down in 2007 due to a decline in oil prices that began late last year and has continued into 2007, which would explain in part the decline in capital inflow.
