Moscow, March 17 (Petra) -- The Russian Central Bank announced on Tuesday a reduction in the official ruble exchange rate against the U.S. dollar and other major currencies, with the ruble declining by 82.63 kopeks against the dollar to reach 81.05 rubles per U.S. dollar.

The Central Bank said in a press statement that "the ruble was reduced by 67.08 kopeks against the euro, reaching 92.65 rubles, and declined by 9.37 kopeks against the Chinese yuan to reach 11.74 rubles." //Petra// AF