Oil bounces as much as 1.3; rouble hits 15month low
MSCI AxJ index touches threeweek low
FX market broadly steady; yen firm

SINGAPORE, June 26 Reuters Oil was slightly higher on Monday and the rouble lower as an abortive weekend mutiny by Russian mercenaries raised questions about Russian stability and crude supply, but left investors hesitant to draw any further conclusions.

Brent crude futures were last up 0.2 at 74.02 a barrel having earlier fetched as much as 74.80. The rouble dropped to a 15month low early in Moscow.

MSCI39;s index of AsiaPacific shares outside Japan slipped to a threeweek low, as small falls in China, Taiwan and Australia offset minor gains in South Korea.

Japan39;s Nikkei eased 0.1. The battered yen rose marginally on hints at looming government intervention to support it and after a summary showing a central bank board called for an early revision of yield curve control.

European futures gained 0.3, SP 500 futures rose 0.2 and FTSE futures added 0.1.

Russian mercenaries made a shortlived rebellion on Saturday, seizing the southern city of Rostov and advancing on Moscow demanding the removal of Russian military commanders in charge of the war in Ukraine.

The private Wagner army then withdrew after striking a deal guaranteeing their safety and the passage of their leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, to Belarus.

The consequences for the Ukraine war were not clear, though the challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin39;s authority was the…