MOSCOW, Sept 1 Reuters Russian stocks eased after a Gazpromled surge in the previous session to their highest in recent months, following the gas giant39;s decision to recommended interim dividends, while the rouble hovered near 60 against the dollar and euro.

Shares in Gazprom leapt around 25 on Wednesday after its board had recommended paying 51.03 roubles 0.8484 per ordinary share in dividends on the first half of 2022, taking the overall dividend payout to around 20 billion.

Its shares were down 0.3 on Thursday as of 0724 GMT.

Gazprom39;s dividend payout could become a trigger for growth of the Russian stock market, said Dmitry Skryabin, a portfolio manager at Alfa Capital. The example of Gazprom may encourage dividend payments by other companies that have not paid out, but have the financial capacity to do so.

The dollardenominated RTS index, which had surged to a near twomonth high in the previous session, was down 0.4 at 1,253.5 points.

The roublebased MOEX Russian index was 0.3 lower at 2.394.0 points, not far from the three monthhigh of 2,423.12 points, hit on Wednesday.

The rouble was edging towards 60 against the dollar and euro. It was 0.1 stronger against the dollar at 60.19 and had gained 0.3 to trade at 60.28 versus the euro .

The rouble spent most of August near 60 per dollar. Volatility has subsided since it hit a record low of 121.53 per dollar in Moscow trade in March, soon after Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine. It then…