The Russian rouble opened stronger on Monday, firming past 74 against the dollar, helped by tax payments that companies are due to make this week and as the market looked ahead to a central bank rate decision on Friday. At 0726 GMT, the rouble was 2.2% stronger against the dollar at 73.80 , hovering around levels seen before Feb. 24, when Russia sent tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine. It had gained 2.6% to trade at 78.01 versus the euro . Trading activity remains subdued compared with levels seen before Feb. 24. Movements in the rouble are artificially limited by capital controls imposed by the central bank because it lost the ability to support the rouble through FX interventions after Western sanctions froze nearly half of the […]