Russian stocks close mixed on controversial external background

MOSCOW, Dec 30 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market demonstrated mixed movement on Wednesday thanks to a lack of single external dynamics, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index grew 0.44% to 3,289.02 and the RTS decreased 0.79% to 1,387.46.

“The MOEX Russia and the RTS indices demonstrated no single dynamics during the day, and finished the year above the important medium-term levels of 3,250 and 1,380, respectively… which is a good basis for the beginning of the next year and hitting new highs,” Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

She added that global stock and commodities markets did not demonstrate one-way dynamics either, but are generally seen finishing the year optimistically.

Retail companies were among the biggest gainers. Grocery retailer X5 added 0.55% and Magnit rose 0.45%.

The Russian stock market will resume operations on January 4, 2021

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Gazprom	+1.89	212.69	14.954
Sberbank	-0.33	271.1	7.784
Novatek	+1.88	1259.2	5.945
Lukoil	+0.49	5168	3.863
Norilsk Nickel	+0.71	23696	2.713

(73.6567 rubles – U.S. $1)

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