Russian stocks consolidate, close mixed amid rise of crude prices

MOSCOW, Dec 19 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market consolidated during the day on Tuesday with low activity of investors and finished the day mixed, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index grew 0.24% to 3,083.64 and the RTS decreased 0.10% to 1,074.4.

“The Russian stock exchanges spent most of the trading day consolidating within a narrow range with low activity of market participants. The session started higher,” Freedom Finance Global’s Senior Analyst Natalya Milchakova said.

The Brent oil price increased by 0.95% to U.S. $78.69 per barrel rising on a force majeure situation with sea cargoes transportation in the Middle East, she added. Gold added 0.8% to U.S. $2,056.9 per troy ounce.

Undervalued depository receipts of Qiwi Group, comprising payment system operator Qiwi and Qiwi Bank, were among the best performers rising by around 25%. Shares of Credit Bank of Moscow dropped following the recent hike of the key rate by the central bank, Milchakova also said.

Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that pre-Christmas purchases continued on the Western bourses, and the Russian market is choosing its trend for the short term.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.32	267.54	9.765
Gazprom	-0.89	165.52	6.004
Lukoil	-0.20	6710	4.239
Mechel	-1.99	290.63	3.956
NLMK	+3.57	174.56	2.029

(90.4162 rubles – U.S. $1)

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