Russian stocks edge down again on threat of further virus spread

MOSCOW, Jan 31 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market rose at the opening on Friday, but reversed later in the day following the global environment worsening on the news of coronavirus spreading into the U.K., analysts said.  

The MOEX Russia Index fell 1.03% to 3,076.65 and the RTS dropped 1.78% to 1,517.07.

“The Russian stock market reversed to downward dynamics pulled by the external background… worsening on a new wave of fleeing from risks… The Brent oil price moved to below U.S. $58.5 per barrel losing around 1.5%,” senior analyst at Promsvyazbank Bogdan Zvarich said.

Otkritie Broker analyst Andrei Kochetkov said that the domestic stock market started the day optimistically, but then investors were frightened by the news that two people had tested positive for coronavirus in the U.K.

By the end of the day, European benchmarks fell up to 1.1%, and the major U.S. indices Dow Jones and S&P500 declined 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively, in the first 30 minutes of trading, Zvarich said.

Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that oil producer Lukoil grew 1.66% after the MSCI had said that it would raise the weight of the company in the indices.

Precious metals producer Polymetal International added 3.01% in light of the decision of its board of directors to pay $0.20 per share in special dividends for 2019.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Gazprom	-2.09	226.7	16.088
Sberbank	-1.99	252.2	12.250
Lukoil	+1.66	6550.5	11.655
Rosneft	-0.15	480.5	4.135
Norilsk Nickel	-0.38	20800	4.061

(63.0359 rubles – U.S. $1)

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