Russian stocks close mixed amid continuing Ukrainian conflict

MOSCOW, Apr 19 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market continued its negative dynamics on Tuesday in light of persisting geopolitical risks, but managed to recover partially by the end of the trading session to close mixed, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 1.07% to 2,317.46 and the RTS increased 0.62% to 931.86.

“The Russian stock market continued its negative dynamics on Tuesday. It was based on persisting geopolitical risks and uncertain external background. Sales in local stocks were supported by energy prices with the nearest Brent oil futures seen falling by 4.3% to U.S. $108.3 per barrel,” senior analyst at financial supermarket Banki.Ru Bogdan Zvarich said.

He added that the MOEX Russia Index managed to recover from most of the day’s losses by the end of the trading session.

Main European indices demonstrated mixed dynamics, and the core U.S. benchmarks Dow Jones and S&P500 added more than 1% in the first minutes of trading, Zvarich also said.

Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port (NCSP) and TCS Group were among the worst performers sliding by more than 7.5%.

Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that online retailer Ozon added 4.15% after it denied media reports that the company had laid off some staff to cut cost, and agricultural producer RusAgro surged by 3.10% thanks to its intention to purchase the Russian business of Finnish Valio.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-2.87%	120.3	9.553
Gazprom	+1.72%	220.72	6.553
Lukoil	-1.41%	4485	3.051
TCS Group	-6.69%	2540	1.592
Yandex	-1.2%	1857.6	1.419

(79.4529 rubles – U.S. $1)

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