Russian stocks close mixed pressured by global investor wariness

MOSCOW, Oct 15 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market traded and closed mixed on Monday due to a tense environment on global stock exchanges, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 0.58% to 2,389.05and the RTS rose 0.47% to 1,146.72.

“The MOEX Russia and the RTS indices traded mixed… on Monday hesitating to break through the nearest resistance levels… the benchmarks are ready to follow the global sentiments, which remain tense, in the next days. The short-term upside to break through important marks looks constrained although bulls hope to take advantage of positive drivers,” Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

Veles Capital analyst Artyom Mikhailin said that the Russian market was supported by the Brent crude price consolidating above U.S. $80.8 per barrel on U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements about possible sanctions against Saudi Arabia.

Analyst at Freedom Finance Anastasia Sosnova said that Russian metals producers were among the biggest losers ahead of financial results publications which are expected to be weak. Steel maker Severstal fell 2.55% to 1,030 rubles, Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) lost 2.3% to 47.935 rubles, and steelmaker Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) slid 1.94% to 165 rubles.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.48	190.92	10.382
Gazprom	-1.8	164	3.335
Lukoil	-1.23	4747	2.076
Norilsk Nickel	-0.73	11088	1.882
Magnit	+2.01	3560	1.823

(65.9751 rubles – U.S. $1)

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