Economist opines on future of Belarus' foreign exchange market

Director of the Institute of Economics at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Vasily Gursky told the STV channel about the situation on the foreign exchange market in Belarus, BelTA informs. “Unfortunately, it has not been possible lately to rely on established economic laws, even on common sense. Of course, we can say that there are all economic prerequisites for the strengthening of the ruble: a drop in demand for dollars and euros due to the sanctions, transition to settlements in Russian rubles. At the same time, the influx of dollars, at least to Russia, has increased significantly, because oil and gas became more expensive and much more petrodollars are received for the same amount of hydrocarbons.

Hence, a significant imbalance due to the excess supply and reduced demand. In other words, economic logic suggests that the dollar will weaken. In addition, given the transition to Russian rubles in payments for Russian energy resources by Belarus, the Belarusian ruble is expected to strengthen significantly,” Vasily Gursky said.

According to him, the price for a currency is not shaped by the supply and demand and economic factors, but by hoaxes, manipulations. “Unfortunately, some Internet resources, Western media are trying to sow panic and anxiety in order to fuel panic buying. These actions can significantly but temporarily increase or decrease the exchange rate or demand for some goods.