Russian stocks close mixed over divs, sanctions expectations

MOSCOW, May 22 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market closed with mixed dynamics on Monday over expectations of dividends and financial results of some companies and the news about new sanctions, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index rose 0.27% to 2,633.26 and the RTS decreased 0.08% to 1,035.80.

“Participants of trades are mainly focused on news about dividends. However, the positive influence of this factor is leveled by messages about new sanctions and also a continuing uncertainty concerning revision of parameters of the U.S. state debt,” Freedom Finance Global’s leading analyst Natalya Milchakova said.

According to director of the stock market department at managing company Pervaya Anton Kravchenko, the postponement of the eleventh package of E.U. sanctions until June may give additional support to the markets in the short term.

Today the Russian market growth was restrained by falling oil prices, as well as negative dynamics on the global stock markets, the analyst said.

Oil quotations are consolidating in a wide range of U.S. $74–78 per barrel, which persists in the absence of significant signals for growth, he also said.

Veles Capital’s analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that the market did not show significant changes by the end of main trading and retreated from the peaks of the day in the absence of significant drivers.

TCS Group shares showed the strongest growth. TCS Group securities today rose to the highest since September 2022 due to general optimism in the banking sector, Kozhukhova said.

Polymetal and Polyus continued to decline at the beginning of the new week amid the new sanctions, as well as gold prices falling below $2,000 per ounce.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Yandex	+1.79	2263	8.075
Gazprom	-1.16	172.41	6.904
Sberbank	-0.05	231.16	5.675
VTB Bank	-1.21	0.02285	3.433
Gazprom Neft	-1.65	540.95	2.378

(79.9093 rubles – U.S. $1)

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