Russian stocks close mixed in light of new package of sanctions

MOSCOW, Apr 6 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market ignored the external background and managed to consolidate during the day on Wednesday, but closed mixed on introduction of new anti-Russian sanctions by the U.S. and the U.K., analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 1.93%% to 2,611.43 and the RTS increased 2.99% to 1,034.79.

“The Russian stock market managed to maintain its previous day’s positions despite a negative foreign background… Local stocks could have been pressured by rising geopolitical risks and… a significant ruble strengthening,” senior analyst at financial supermarket Banki.Ru Bogdan Zvarich said.

Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that the market was trading mixed in the evening on announcement of new anti-Russian sanctions.

Fertilizers producers Acron and PhosAgro were again among the best performers, as well as oil company Gazprom Neft and pipe producer TMK.

Both common and preferred shares of top bank Sberbank lost 8.11% and 6.38%, respectively, due to the fresh sanctions.

The Russian stock market continues to ignore the external background, but the trading volumes are very low, Zvarich also said.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-8.11%	141.6	16.064
Gazprom	-1.56%	239.7	5.012
VTB Bank	-4.9%	0.02195	3.347
Yandex	-4.06%	2070.8	2.918
PhosAgro	+7.25%	7380	2.221

(83.3520 rubles – U.S. $1)

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