Russian rouble weakens against US dollar amid slow trading

MOSCOW, June 26 (Reuters) - The Russian rouble weakened against the U.S. dollar and China's yuan on Thursday amid low trading volumes with analysts saying that sluggish imports, the key factor behind the rouble's strength, were still in place.

By 1415 GMT, the rouble RUB= traded 0.5% weaker at 78.60 per U.S. dollar, according to LSEG data based on over-the-counter quotes. The Russian currency is up by about 45% against the dollar since the start of the year.

"The main factor supporting the rouble is the decrease in import activity," said Alina Poptsova from Alfa Capital.

"Consumer demand is beginning to cool under tight monetary policy conditions, and as a result, the need for foreign currency to purchase imported goods is decreasing," she added.

Many analysts and entrepreneurs believe that the rouble is currently overvalued, and the fair exchange rate is about 100 rouble to the dollar.

Against the Chinese yuan, the most traded foreign currency in Russia, the rouble traded at 10.93 per yuan, down by 0.4% on the Moscow Stock Exchange.