Russian stocks decline amid unstable foreign background

MOSCOW, Jul 14 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks decreased on Tuesday amid mixed dynamics of global floors and oil prices, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 0.80% to 2,744.54 and the RTS dropped 1.43% to 1,216.79.

“The MOEX Russia Index and RTS remained in minus by the end of trading, although they were able to retreat from the lows of the day,” Veles Capital analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

The foreign background was mixed. Trading in the U.S. started without single dynamics of three main indices, which were trading mixed within 1% by the end of the Russian session. Moderately negative moods were seen on European floors.

The nearest futures for Brent and WTI oil switched to growth by the end of trading in Russia and were gaining around 1%.

“On the one hand, the situation with virus in the U.S. remains quite tense, and on the other hand, short-term investors do not lose optimism including on the oil market,” Kozhukhova said.

Shares of Safmar group soared 11.97% on reports about a mandatory buyout offer to minority shareholders. Real estate developer PIK Group was also among growth leaders, rising by 6%.

Power producer Wholesale Generating Company-2 (WGC-2) and coal producer Raspadskaya were among outsiders, losing 3.94% and 3.62%, respectively.

Gas giant Gazprom’s shares lost only 0.51% after publishing a net loss for January–March.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Gazprom	-0.51	194.70	14.836
Sberbank	+0.32	209.06	13.222
Lukoil	-1.19	4868.00	9.585
Norilsk Nickel	-1.26	17720.00	9.262
Polyus	-0.05	12845.50	3.266

(70.7479 rubles – U.S. $1)

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