Russia suspends exchange auction

The rouble slid to a five-week low as the Russian central bank suspended some foreign-exchange auctions, stepping up measures to counter this year’s biggest currency rally.

The rouble weakened 1.7% to 53.23 against the dollar yesterday in Moscow. It fell 1.2% last month, trimming this year’s advance to 14%.

Bank of Russia suspended the sale of one-year foreign-currency repurchase agreements yesterday, continuing a policy of restricting access to instruments that can be used to reinvest in higher-yielding ruble assets.