Rcussian stocks decrease on sanctions pressure

MOSCOW, Apr 12 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market declined on Tuesday as the companies in almost all sectors face sanctions, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell by 0.63% to 2,540.99, and the RTS index decreased by 1.21% to 1,004.70.

"The Russian market fell again. The gold producers, seen as protection from inflation and geopolitical risks, were the gain leaders,” Otkritie Research’s leading analyst for global research Andrei Kochetkov said.

“The banks that are under external restrictions were under pressure. The financial organizations may also leave their shareholders with no dividends indefinitely."

Senior analyst at financial supermarket Banki.Ru Bogdan Zvarich said that sales predominated in the first half of the day, but the market started to recover in the evening, as the U.S. inflation indicators triggered growth of the markets in the West.

The closest Brent futures contract grew by 6.6% to U.S. $105 per barrel. Still, the upward dynamics in Russia did not compensate the sales.

According to Kochetkov, the gold prices continued to rise, supporting demand for gold producers' shares.

Besides the financial organizations, the transport sector sagged as one of the most vulnerable to sanctions. Aeroflot was among the outsiders, decreasing 3.95%, Kochetkov said.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-2.39	135.38	10.064
Gazprom	+0.75	236.3	6.126
VTB	-1.81	0.02111	1.511
Polyus	+0.12%	14392.5	1.354
Rosneft	-0.46	412.1	1.254

(79.1596 rubles – U.S. $1)  

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