1.   As its financial markets teetered on the brink of collapse, Russia launched a desperate effort Wednesday to defend the ruble and stem the exodus of foreign investors.

2.   Chubais said that the Russian government would continue to defend the ruble, which has lost value since the financial crisis began.

3.   Generally, the funds saw steeper declines in May when the Russian central bank raised overnight interest rates to defend the ruble and when oil prices slumped.

4.   RUSSIA SEEKS EXPANDED ASSISTANCE Russian President Boris Yeltsin urged Western leaders to support a multibillion-dollar package of financial assistance to defend the ruble.

5.   The futility of that effort became apparent this week, when the Central Bank finally announced that it would stop defending the ruble and shut down the currency exchange.

6.   With the central bank unable to summon the foreign currency reserves to defend the ruble, its value fell sharply again Friday.

7.   Yeltsin insisted that his government would defend the ruble and that devaluation could be avoided.

8.   Potyomkin said the central bank will remain firm in its policy to defend the ruble.

9.   A top bank official insisted Monday the bank will remain firm in its policy to defend the ruble.

10.   By raising interest rates, the central bank has shown it is serious about defending the ruble.