The bank said the move was to try to ease the rouble's recent descent in value.
The Russian rouble has dropped to a new low against the US dollar, as falling oil prices and Western sanctions continue to weigh on the country's economy.
It snapped back to 60 roubles per dollar from a low of 67 earlier.
The 60 mark is considered a "psychological barrier" for Russia's national currency, says the BBC's Moscow correspondent, Steve Rosenberg. » | Monday, December 15, 2014
