This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine

MOSCOW, Aug 24 Reuters The rouble eased on Wednesday but still traded near 60 against the dollar as it retained some support from monthend tax payments that prompt exportfocused firms to step up conversion of foreign currency, while stock indexes inched lower.

At 0737 GMT, the rouble was 0.3 weaker against the dollar at 60.10 and eased 0.2 to 59.69 to the euro .

The dollarrouble pair has been in a relatively narrow 5761 range for almost a month and a half. The rouble has stopped strengthening and the pair seems to have momentarily reached a supply and demand equilibrium, said Mikhail Biryukov, chief analyst at Alfa Capital.

Yeartodate, the rouble has become the world39;s bestperforming currency as a result of capital controls that Russia imposed after beginning what it calls a special military operation in Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Rouble volatility has subsided after wild swings that saw it hit a record low of 121.53 to the dollar on the Moscow Exchange in March and then rally to a sevenyear peak of 50.01 in June.

Russia39;s economy has avoided the meltdown many predicted after Moscow sent its forces into Ukraine six months ago, with higher prices for its oil exports cushioning the impact of Western sanctions, but hardships are emerging for some Russians.

On the stock market, the dollardenominated RTS index shed 0.9 to 1,179.5 points. The roublebased MOEX…