MOSCOW - Russia's Finance Minister predicted at the weekend that the economy will grow more than 2 per cent in the fourth quarter in another sign the country is coming out of its recession.

Alexei Kudrin said 2 per cent growth would represent the second straight quarter-on-quarter increase in output. The economy grew by 0.6 per cent in the third quarter over the second.

He also said the ruble might strengthen further against the dollar because of high oil prices.

- AP