Russian stocks close mixed on ruble, oil dynamics

MOSCOW, Oct 16 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks closed mixed on Friday following dynamics of the Brent oil price and the ruble’s exchange rate as there were no other significant factors, analysts said.

The MICEX fell 0.86% to 1,717.00 and the RTS increased 0.57% to 881.19.

After expiration of futures, the Brent oil price was above U.S. $50 per barrel for most of the day, but in the evening it slightly fell to below $50, which prompted a decrease in the major part of Russia’s blue chips, Alexander Kostyukov, an analyst at investment company Veles Capital, said.

The Brent oil futures lost 0.121% to U.S. $49.67 per barrel as of 6.12 p.m. Moscow time, according to the ICE exchange.

The RTS index grew as it priced in the Thursday increase of the ruble’s exchange rate, Bogdan Zvarich, an analyst at investment company Finam, said.

“The markets’ mood looks relatively stable right now. There is no strong positive mood or strong negative mood,” Andrei Dirgin, an analyst at Alfa-Forex, said. “On the last trading day of the week we have encountered a rather traditional profit taking,” he added.

Shares of biggest bank Sberbank outperformed the market and other blue chips due to a mid-term strengthening of the ruble’s rate. Sberbank’s common and preferred shares increased 0.94% and 1.10%, respectively, Vitaly Manzhos, a senior analyst at Bank Obrazovanie, said.

Uncut diamond mining giant ALROSA lost 3.28% as investors were still reacting to Thursday rumors that tycoon Said Kerimov’s family may sell Russia’s largest gold producer Polyus Gold to ALROSA after consolidating the asset. Even though the rumors were denied, investors thought that there is no smoke without fire, Manzhos said.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+0.94	88.52	12.775
Gazprom	-1.13	141.00	4.119
Lukoil	-0.69	2303.80	2.818
Norilsk Nickel	-1.86	9601.00	2.351
Magnit	-2.92	11707.00	1.867

(62.2433 rubles – U.S. $1)

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