Russian stocks decrease in line with foreign floors

MOSCOW, Apr 25 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks decreased on Thursday amid negative dynamics on foreign floors, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 0.70% to 2,560.94 and the RTS decreased 1.42% to 1,245.98.

“On Thursday, the Russian stock market continued its correctional decline amid a controversial external background. Sales in our shares were encouraged by dynamics of Western floors. In Europe, major indices were losing within 0.5% by the evening, and in the U.S., after the first hours of trading, Dow Jones and S&P 500 indices retreated by 0.7% and 0.1%, respectively,” Promsvyazbank chief analyst Bogdan Zvarich said.

The situation on the energy market could provide support to the Russian market, as Brent oil futures nearly approached the level of U.S. $75 per barrel, but this factor was ignored by domestic investors, the analyst said.

Independent gas producer Novatek was among growth leaders, adding 3.4% after reporting that its net profit jumped to 381.796 billion rubles in January–March from 43.1 billion rubles in the same period of 2018, as calculated under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

National top lender Sberbank was among outsiders, with its common shares falling by 3.47% and preferred shares losing 2.44%.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-3.47	227.80	23.344
Lukoil	-1.94	5648.50	4.643
Gazprom	-0.78	159.31	3.465
Novatek	+3.4	1187.00	1.769
Norilsk Nickel	+1.08	14470.00	1.756

(63.9798 rubles – U.S. $1)

End