Analysts talked about current investment options.

Many investors currently prefer mutual funds (mutual funds), as they can provide profitability and reduce risks. Elena Baklanova, senior investment analyst at Euler Analytical Technologies mutual funds, told Izvestia on May 14, explaining which investments are relevant against the background of currency volatility.

"Investors are also attracted by the opportunity to buy one share, invest in a large number of instruments and diversify their portfolio. According to our forecasts, the share of mutual funds in the market will increase in the face of currency volatility and constant changes. In 2024, the share of investments in the collective investment market in the total volume of investments [of individuals] increased to 9.9%, and according to our estimates, it will grow to 14% by 2030," the expert noted.

She clarified that the threshold for entry into mutual funds is usually lower than in some securities, and diversification is higher. Money market funds, real estate funds, bond funds, and stocks are available to investors, and professional managers often provide higher returns.

For example, in March, the largest funds with a share of investments in stocks of more than 55% outperformed the MICEX index (the Moscow Exchange index. — Ed.) by an average of 1.2%. Their estimated share price (RSP) decreased by an average of 4.6% in March against a 5.8% decrease in the MICEX index," she added.

Spring growth: why the ruble soared against the yuan

The Russian currency has strengthened by 20% in three months and continues to grow

In turn, Vitaly Naumov, senior analyst at Euler Analytical Technologies, clarified that the factors contributing to the observed strengthening of the ruble were a decrease in imports and refinancing of ruble borrowings with foreign currency. According to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, imports fell by $2.2 billion year-on-year to $64.9 billion in the first quarter of 2025. This was largely caused by overstocking at car dealers due to proactive imports at the end of last year before the increase in recycling, the expert explained.

"At the same time, exporters, according to the Central Bank, increased net sales of foreign currency by 3.2% quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter of 2025. At the end of 2024, the situation with foreign currency liquidity improved markedly, which prompted, first of all, exporting companies to increase foreign currency borrowings in order to refinance ruble debt. Since the beginning of the year, the volume of placement of foreign currency and quasi—currency bonds has amounted to $5.2 billion," the analyst noted.

At the same time, the regulator continues to sell currency for 8.9 billion rubles per day as part of irregular operations outside the budget rule, which accounts for more than 5% of the daily turnover in the yuan-ruble pair.

"We predict that by the end of the year, the ruble will weaken due to the recovery of imports. In terms of currency volatility, we believe that ruble-denominated money market funds offer good insurance against a possible weakening of the ruble. The liquidity of currency and quasi—currency bonds has decreased recently, which reduces their attractiveness, in our opinion," Naumov added.

According to the regulator, the dollar is at 80.2 rubles, the euro is at 90.38, and the yuan is at 11.11 rubles.

The information in the material is not an investment recommendation.

Earlier, on May 12, Spartak Sobolev, head of Alfa-Forex's research and investment strategies department, told Izvestia that this week there could be fluctuations in quotations in the range of 78.5–85 rubles per dollar, 88-94 rubles per euro and 11-11.5 rubles per yuan.