Russian rouble edges lower as authorities discuss currency controls

The Russian rouble edged lower against the dollar on Thursday, struggling to pull away from the 100 threshold, as authorities discussed a range of capital control measures that could be implemented to prop up the currency. The Bank of Russia jacked up the cost of borrowing at a third meeting in succession last week in response to the weak rouble, which tumbled to a near 17-month low of 101.75 to the dollar in August. Rate increases appear to have had a limited effect so far, but the Bank of Russia's Deputy Governor Alexei Zabotkin disputed that.