MOSCOW, August 18. /TASS/. The ruble is strengthening against the dollar and the euro compared to the close of the previous session at the beginning of currency trading on the Moscow Exchange on Thursday.

As of 10:15 Moscow time, the dollar-to-ruble rate dropped by 0.19% to 60.61 rubles, the euro lost 0.35% and reached 61.61 rubles.

At the opening of trading on the Moscow Exchange, the dollar-to-ruble rate fell by 0.41% to 60.5 rubles, the euro rate edged down by 0.09% to 61.61 rubles.

The MOEX Index accelerated the decline to 0.47% and fell to 2,178.23 points, the RTS index fell by 0.43% to 1,131.49 points, according to the data of the trading platform at 10:15 Moscow time.

At the opening of trading, the MOEX index edged down 0.01% to 2,188.42 points, while the RTS dollar index fell by 0.14% to 1,134.82 points.