This key enhancement to the bank's multi-product trading platform, the SaxoTrader, was done to allow institutional and private clients around the world to invest freely in the ruble and hedge currency risks in Russia.

The dollar-ruble cross marks the 160th currency to be launched on the award-winning Saxo Trader platform.

"We are delighted to enhance our foreign exchange offering with the dollar-ruble cross as a service to our increasing base of institutional Russian clients and to foreign investors around the world, " says Lars Seier Christensen, co-founder and CEO of Saxo Bank. "In a market hungrier for diversified and competitive investment opportunities than ever before, interest in Russia and its growing economy has significantly increased over the past 12-18 months. The trend testifies strongly to Russia's key position in the global economy, and we are keen to continue developing and customizing our product and service offering on this market."

Emerging markets in Eastern Europe have been a consistent source of growth in Saxo Bank's partner activities and product suite.

"The introduction of the ruble cross to our trading system is proof positive of Russia's success on the road to complete convertibility of its national currency, and a sign of the growing recognition of the ruble on the international markets," says Vitaly Butbaev, head of Saxo Bank's Eastern European Institutional Desk.

Butbaev adds that introducing the ruble cross is an important step in the Bank's larger strategy to simplify access to interbank liquidity for investors and traders.

"We expect that this newest cross will be in demand among banks as well as corporate and private clients for investments, trading operations and hedging," he says.