MOSCOW, August 19. /TASS/. The Russian stock market decreased at the beginning of the main session on Friday as the MOEX Index was down by 0.67% at 2,179.58 points, while the dollar-denominated RTS was down by 0.52% at 1,156.24 points, according to trading data as of 10:41 am Moscow time.

As trading opened the MOEX Index gained 0.24% to 2,199.6 points, while the RTS Index added 0.14% to 1,163.94 points.

Meanwhile the dollar exchange rate was down by 0.26% compared with the previous closing at 59.37 rubles, while the euro exchange rate was down by 0.81% at 59.69 rubles as of 10:41 am. As trading opened on Moscow Exchange the dollar exchange rate was higher than that of the European currency, reaching 59.65 rubles (+0.2%), while the euro exchange rate was down by 1.02% at 59.56 rubles. Later the dollar exchange rate started declining sharply to 57.7 rubles (-3.08%).