Russian stocks close mixed on unfavorable environ, rising ruble

MOSCOW, Apr 25 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market closed mixed on Monday as the MOEX Russia Index suffered from the pressure of the unfavorable environment, while the RTS Index grew supported by the rising ruble, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 2.06% to 2,186.22 and the RTS increased 1.38% to 941.08.

“Pressure on our shares was exerted by the geopolitical factor and by worsening of the external background as well. Sales in our shares were in part prompted by the situation on the energy market where the Brent oil price lost over 5% and fell below U.S. $101 per barrel. Dynamics of the Western floors also adds some negative momentum,” Bogdan Zvarich, senior analyst at financial supermarket Banki.ru, said.

Veles Capital analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that the ruble rate triggered mixed movement of the Russian indices on Monday.

“The ruble continued growing because of the tax paying period, but the increase may stop with another reduction of the key rate that the central bank can make this Friday. Nevertheless, the bulk of shares experienced sales, and the MOEX Russia Index fell to its lowest since late February as there were no optimistic pieces of geopolitical news,” Kozhukhova said.

Investment company Freedom Finance said in a research note that some shares rose on corporate news. Metals giant Norilsk Nickel gained 1.02% to 19,900 rubles after a dividend recommendation, and grocery retailer Magnit gained 3.11% to 4,299.50 rubles as investors anticipated a high dividend recommendation that the company’s board of directors is to make on Wednesday, Freedom Finance said.

At the same time, the gold and silver production of Polymetal International lost 9.68% to 700 rubles as its January–March production decreased, analysts of Freedom Finance said.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-4.33	111.90	5.179
Gazprom	-0.79	206.35	3.879
Lukoil	+2.69	3931.00	2.176
Yandex	-10.12	1520.80	1.300
Norilsk Nickel	+1.02	19900.00	1.076

(73.5050 rubles – U.S. $1)

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