Russian stocks close mixed on strong crude, profit-taking

MOSCOW, Jul 10 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market traded mixed on Tuesday thanks to a support of strong crude prices and amid profit-taking, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index hit an all-time record of 2,377.01 during the day, but finally slid 0.34% to 2,365.17, and the RTS rose 0.78% to 1,202.42.

“A positive sentiment prevailed on the Russian stock market. The MOEX Russia Index started with a confident growth and hit a new all-time highest in the middle of the session amid rising crude prices and optimism on the Western market. After that, investors began taking profit,” Veles Capital analyst Alexander Sidorov said.

Vitaly Manzhos, senior risk manager at investment company Nord Capital, saw mixed idealess trading on the domestic market and said the MOEX Russia Index’s record was only nominal as the benchmark failed to consolidate near the mark despite a support of oil prices. The Brent oil futures broke through a U.S. $79 per barrel mark during the day.

Strong oil supported local producers some of which outperformed the market. Rosneft added 1.24% to 413.2 rubles and Tatneft rose 1.44% to 699.9 rubles.

Sberbank grew 0.13% to 230.3 rubles still pricing in the recently released sound Russian Accounting Standards (RAS) financial report.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+0.13	230.3	9.975
Lukoil	-2.18	4355	4.460
Gazprom	-0.47	147.3	2.670
Rosneft	+1.24	413.2	2.435
Norilsk Nickel	-0.63	11725	2.050

(62.8338 rubles – U.S. $1)

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