Russian stocks closed mixed on falling oil, weaker ruble

MOSCOW, Dec 6 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks closed mixed on Wednesday amid falling oil prices and the ruble’s depreciation, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index rose 0.49% to 2,124.12 and the RTS decreased 0.25% to 1,131.38.

“Russian stock indices opened in the negative territory today. However, due to the ruble’s weakening the MOEX Russia Index managed to return to the growth zone soon, although its growth potential is limited due to investors’ unwillingness to make purchases,” InstaForex analyst Igor Kovalyov said.

Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that the market was under the biggest pressure by a fall in oil quotations. Amid falling oil prices the ruble depreciated against the dollar and euro, she said.

Oil major Lukoil’s shares remained flat on reports that the shareholders approved paying 85 rubles per share in dividends for January–September.

Russia’s largest children goods retailer Detsky Mir lost 0.14% after its shareholders approved paying 2.97 rubles per share, or a total of 2.195 billion rubles, in dividends for January–September.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.07	223.75	5.177
Gazprom	+0.26	134.00	1.959
Lukoil	0	3403.00	1.501
Norilsk Nickel	+0.88	10166.00	1.327
Aeroflot	-1.16	144.70	1.150

(58.6924 rubles – U.S. $1)

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