Russian stocks close mixed due to domestic uncertainty

MOSCOW, May 19 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market closed mixed on Friday on an uncertain investor mood despite rising oil prices and a better external background, analysts said.

The MICEX eased 0.27% to 1,962.40 and the RTS rose 1.02% to 1,087.75.

“The MICEX index is again balancing between a further correction and returning to growth. The current level is a zone, where the market had stood before the U.S. (presidential) election, waiting for a less favorable scenario. The future dividend news may push the index by another 2-3%, but consolidation seems to be more probable,” Otkritie Broker analyst Andrei Kochetkov said.

Raiffeisen Capital analyst Sofya Kirsanova said the global environment looked positive with most U.S. benchmarks winning back their losses and concerns about a “political coup” in the United States calming down to provide positive sentiment both for Asia and Europe.

The Brent oil price climbed to above $53.5 after most participants of the OPEC+ oil output cut deal said they endorse its prolongation for several months, and some other countries expressed their intention to join the agreement.

Gas giant Gazprom slid by 2.14% to 124.19 rubles on disappointment with its 2016 dividend payments, which had been raised by the board of directors by only 0.15 rubles, Kochetkov said.

Below are the MICEX’ five most active stocks on Friday:

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Gazprom	-2.14%	124.19	7.211
Sberbank	+1.42%	168.87	6.132
Lukoil	-0.94%	2,850.00	1.830
Magnit	-0.70%	9,190.00	1.262
Rosneft	+0.36%	306.10	1.216

(57.4683 rubles – U.S. $1)

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