Russian stocks close mixed on profit taking ahead of long weekend

MOSCOW, Feb 3 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks closed mixed on Friday as investors preferred to take profit on a lack of significant drivers ahead of 3-day weekend, analysts said.

The MICEX fell 0.29% to 1,792.70 and the RTS increased 0.43% to 910.42.

The stock trading session in Russia before a 3-day weekend closed flat as investors preferred not to take risks, as well as avoided “abrupt movements,” while a Thursday slump trend, trigged by Brent price downward correction, was curbed, Anton Fomin, an analyst at InstaForex, said.

The Brent price consolidated above $60.5 per barrel by the closure of Russia’s trading session after a fall to about $58 on Thursday.

Russia-dedicated funds registered a net inflow of U.S. $283 million in the week between February 12 and Wednesday, according to the Emerging Portfolio Fund Research data, and this factor provided some support to the market, Sergei Filchenkov, an analyst at Metropol, said.

Razgulay Group grew 25.39% by the closing bell on a new speculation wave linked with a recent inclusion of the company in a list of systematically important companies, Valery Yevdokimov, a chief analyst at Nordea Bank said.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+1.31	74.75	13.212
Gazprom	-1.80	158.00	5.157
Lukoil	-0.16	2990.00	2.306
Norilsk Nickel	-0.22	11330.00	1.353
Rosneft	-0.63	274.00	1.180

(62.1307 rubles – U.S. $1)

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