Russian stocks closed mixed amid no drivers on Catholic Easter

MOSCOW, Apr 3 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks closed mixed on Friday on lack of drivers as western bourses were closed for the Catholic Easter holidays and on a growth pace slowdown in U.S. non-farm payrolls, while reached agreements on the Iranian nuclear program are yet to have their full impact on oil price dynamics, analysts said.

The MICEX rose 0.13% to 1,681.47 and the RTS decreased 0.37% to 930.12.

“The Russian (stock) market experienced consolidation during the day,” Anton Fomin, an InstaForex analyst, said. Western trading floors were closed due to the Catholic Easter holidays and this fact, along with the end of the working week, contributed to mixed dynamics of domestic stocks, he said.

On Thursday, Iran and six international intermediaries agreed that Iran will halt two thirds of its nuclear power facilities within 10 years and will put its uranium enrichment programs under international control for 25 years. The sides also agreed to complete preparing an agreement on nuclear program by June 30. The U.S. will abolish its sanctions against Iran if the country fulfills the reached agreements.

If the sanctions against Iran are lifted, global oil supply may rise by at least 1 million barrels per day, but it might happen only in the long-term, therefore oil quotations experienced only slight pressure on Thursday and this fact allowed the Russian market to have some growth on Friday, Veles Capital said in a research note.

The trading on the Russian market was also supported to some extent by the news that a growth pace of non-farm payrolls in the U.S. slowed down, Veles Capital said.

Gold miner Seligdar common shares fell 3.20% as the company posted a 2 billon ruble net loss in 2014 against a 44 million ruble net profit in 2013, Fomin said.

Below are the MICEX’ five most active stocks on Friday:

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.64	65.50	5.628
Gazprom	+0.03	143.94	2.698
Norilsk Nickel	+1.46	10237.00	1.398
Lukoil	+1.59	2824.80	1.253
VTB	-0.13	0.06162	0.940

(56.9902 rubles – U.S. $1)

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