Russian stocks close higher in line with oil prices, global floors

MOSCOW, Apr 23 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks demonstrated growth dynamics on Thursday supported by rising oil prices and positive moods on Western bourses, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index rose 1.01% to 2,599.41 and the RTS added 3.16% to 1,099.67.

“The MOEX Russia Index and the RTS remained in plus by the end of trading along with oil prices and Western bourses,” Veles Capital analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

The foreign background was positive. Trading in the U.S. started with growth of three main indices, which were adding around 1.3% by the end of the Russian session despite publication of weak macroeconomic data. Positive moods were seen on European floors.

The June Brent and WTI oil futures remained in a steady plus by the evening and were adding 11–30%.

Metals and mining company Mechel was among growth leaders, with common shares adding 5.75% and preferred shares soaring 16.26% on reports about the sale of the Elga coal deposit and debt restructuring.

Precious metals producer Polymetal added 2.19% backed by growth of gold futures.

Oil major Rosneft added 4.05% after its board of directors recommended paying 18.07 rubles per share in final dividends for 2019, with total payments reaching a record of 354.1 billion rubles.

Fertilizer producers Acron and PhosAgro were among outsiders, losing 1.7% and 2.17%, respectively.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Lukoil	+1.91	4902.50	12.464
Sberbank	+0.39	190.94	11.973
Rosneft	+4.05	335.00	7.611
Gazprom	+0.20	188.73	7.576
Norilsk Nickel	+3.07	20216.00	6.359

(77.0416 rubles – U.S. $1)

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