Russian stocks close mixed amid global trade disputes uncertainty

MOSCOW, Sep 7 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market consolidated during most of the day to close mixed on Friday as investors wait for any certainty in trade disputes between the U.S. and other states, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index grew 0.05% to 2,321.82 and the RTS fell 0.37% to 1,050.51.

“The Russian stock indices finished the week neutrally. The sanction risks rose after statements on the Skripals case made by some foreign governments, but investors do not hurry to start sales. The ruble was the market outsider in the situation. The market environment remained tense with investors waiting for some clearness concerning duties on (U.S.) imports from China,” Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

The ruble was consolidating above a 69 rubles per U.S. dollar mark on Friday losing around 2.5% from the beginning of the week.

Otkritie Broker analyst Andrei Kochetkov said that the first part of the trade session was really active with the volume hitting 18 billion rubles. The MOEX Russia Index edged up in the morning, then reversed to the negative territory, and bounced back and consolidated near a 2,320 mark later in the day.  

Kozhukhova said that the U.S. benchmarks were seen mixed, and the sentiment on the European stock exchanges was neutral.

Kochetkov said that top bank Sberbank lost 0.06% to 174.90 rubles after publication of a Russian Accounting Standards (RAS) financial report for January–August which demonstrated a slower net profit growth rate.

Mobile operator MegaFon was among the top gainers surging 5.08% to 538 rubles to win back part of its previous serious losses.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.06	174.9	12.023
Novatek	-1.38	1150.9	2.953
Lukoil	+0.27	4623	2.772
Gazprom	+1.18	148.8	2.405
ALROSA	+1.1	102.11	1.273

(68.2505 rubles – U.S. $1)

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