Russian stocks close mixed amid neutral foreign background

MOSCOW, Jul 17 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market demonstrated uncertain dynamics on Friday and closed mixed amid a generally neutral external environment, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index grew 0.54% to 2,774.79 and the RTS fell 0.31% to 1,216.17.

“The MOEX Russia Index and the RTS index demonstrated no united dynamics on Friday, and finished the week within their short-term ranges,” Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

The sentiment on the U.S. and European stock exchanges was neutral, the main U.S. benchmarks were seen mixed in the first hours of trading, and the Euro Stoxx 50 index grew by around 0.1% by the end of the Russian market’s session, she also said.

Dynamics of the crude market were moderately negative. The nearest Brent and WTI oil price futures bounced back from the day’s lowest to around minus 1%, she added.

Kozhukhova also said that power producer Inter RAO was among the biggest gainers rising 5.52% thanks to the board of directors’ plans to consider on July 31 the company’s long-term development strategy until 2025.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.29	210.73	7.355
Inter RAO	+5.52	5.27	4.861
Gazprom	+0.88	184.93	4.480
Norilsk Nickel	+1.28	18344	3.444
Lukoil	+0.11	4950	2.680

(71.2310 rubles – U.S. $1)

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