Russian stocks close mixed pressured by weakening oil, ruble

MOSCOW, Apr 20 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market consolidated within a narrow range during the day to close mixed on Friday amid a controversial foreign background including weakening oil prices, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index grew 0.09% to 2,232.66 and the RTS fell 0.68% to 1,145.80.

“The Russian stock market… declined as it priced in weakening of the ruble against the U.S. dollar on the back of downward correction on the oil market to around U.S. $73 per barrel of the Brent oil price,” Forex Club analyst Ivan Marchena said.

The oil market reacted to the recent statement of the U.S. President Donald Trump that OPEC drives oil prices higher artificially, Marchena added.

The world’s key stock markets were seen mixed, he also said.

Power producer En+ Group included in a new set of U.S. sanctions earlier in April was the biggest faller losing 16.9% to 349 rubles.

Grocery retailer Magnit sagged 1.95% to 4,825 rubles after it released an IFRS report for January-March marking a 1.8% decline in the net profit.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+0.89%	215.36	12.404
Gazprom	+0.7%	144.4	3.058
Rosneft	+0.49%	338.95	2.383
Magnit	-1.95%	4825	1.897
Lukoil	-0.75%	3985	1.734

(60.8583 rubles – U.S. $1)

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