MOSCOW—The rouble firmed on Friday after hitting all-time lows the previous day when Russia began invading Ukraine, while stock indexes rose sharply after their biggest one-day fall on record and the central bank stepped up support for sanctioned banks.
No Russian assets were left unscathed in heavy selling on Thursday. The fighting in Ukraine continued on Friday, with Russian missiles pounding Kyiv, families cowering in shelters and authorities telling residents to prepare Molotov cocktails to defend Ukraine’s capital.
