Russian rouble steadies near 100 against US dollar

MOSCOW, Dec 25 (Reuters) - The Russian rouble held steady near 100 to the U.S. dollar on Wednesday after strengthening in five consecutive sessions as the market adjusted to new U.S. financial sanctions imposed in November.

The rouble RUB= traded at 99.70 against the dollar by 0900 GMT, over-the-counter market data showed. The rouble strengthened 0.7% to 13.60 against China's yuan in trading on the Moscow Stock Exchange.

Analysts saw possibility for some weakening of the rouble ahead of Russia's New Year break as some players were taking profits on rouble positions and buying foreign currency in order to have it in stock during the holiday period.

"The rouble has completed a strengthening wave, while foreign currencies have plummeted to the target area with the dollar below 100. Active traders prefer to take speculative profits," BCS brokerage analysts said.

One-day rouble/dollar futures, which trade on the Moscow Stock Exchange and are a guide for the over-the-counter exchange rate, were flat at 102.54. The Russian central bank set an official exchange rate at 99.87 to the dollar.

(Reporting by Gleb Bryanski; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

((gleb.bryanski@thomsonreuters.com;))