Russian rouble recovers ground in light holiday trade

MOSCOW, Jan 4 (Reuters) – The Russian rouble firmed on Thursday, recovering some of the previous session’s losses in light holiday trade, helped by higher oil prices. At 0734 GMT, the rouble was 0.5% stronger against the dollar at 91.53. In early trade it had dipped to its weakest point since Dec. 25 of 92.4850. It had gained 0.2% to trade at 100.03 versus the euro . It had firmed 0.3% against the yuan to 12.72 . Brent crude oil, a global benchmark for Russia’s main export, was up 0.7% at $78.79 a barrel. Since October and the rouble’s most recent slide to 100 against the dollar, a presidential decree forcing exporters to convert some foreign currency revenue has supported…