Global positivity encourages Russian stocks to increase

MOSCOW, Aug 12 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market increased on Wednesday thanks to a generally optimistic foreign background including growth of the global energy and stock markets, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index rose 1.61% to 3,053.99 and the RTS increased 0.86% to 1,307.12.

“Russian stocks managed to strengthen their positions thanks to a better external environment on Wednesday. Stabilization of the energy market with the Brent price consolidating above the U.S. $45 per barrel mark encouraged domestic purchases. Local stocks were additionally supported by Western floors’ dynamics,” senior analyst at Promsvyazbank Bogdan Zvarich said.

Major European indices added up to 1.6%, and the main U.S. benchmarks Dow Jones and S&P500 grew 1.1% and 1.4%, respectively, in the first hours of trade, he added.

Zvarich also said that the MOEX Russia Index managed to consolidate above the psychologically important 3,000 mark and to make a significant break-through to the 3,050 mark.

Precious metals miners Polymetal International and Polyus, top bank Sberbank and steel producer Severstal were among the top gainers surging by over 3%.

Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that gold producers were supported by gold prices bouncing back from the day’s lowest.

She added that shares of national flagship air carrier Aeroflot rocketed by 2.74% after the Moscow Exchange had announced its plans to suspend short sales in the shares from Thursday due to an upcoming extraordinary general meeting of the airline’s shareholders where they will discuss an issue of additional shares.

Below are the MOEX Russia Index’s five most active stocks on Wednesday:

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+3.76	241.4	22.312
Norilsk Nickel	+1.83	20800	6.495
Gazprom	+1.89	193.29	6.283
Polyus	+3.69	17455	5.971
Aeroflot	+2.74	85.5	5.800

(73.1522 rubles – U.S. $1)

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