Russian stocks edge down as investors’ risk appetite shrinks

MOSCOW, Dec 14 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market was seen falling on Friday pressured by a negative global background and a decreasing appetite for risk, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index slid 0.54% to 2,2365.69 and the RTS dropped 1.14% to 1,116.50.

“The Russian stock market resumed falling on Friday amid a discouraging external environment. China’s weak industrial production and retail sales results, as well as lower purchasing managers’ indices (PMI) of Germany, France and the E.U. hit investors’ risk appetite,” senior analyst at Promsvyazbank Bogdan Zvarich said.

The Brent crude price failed to consolidate above U.S. $61 per barrel which also supported the bearish sentiment on the domestic market, Zvarich said and added that the central bank’s decision to raise the key interest rate to 7.75% made almost no influence.

Otkritie Broker analyst Andrei Kochetkov said that independent gas producer Novatek added 1.52% to 1,123.8 rubles thanks to the recent full launch of its Yamal LNG (liquefied natural gas) facility.

Russia’s top lender Sberbank was among the biggest losers sliding by a significant 2.24% to 184.93 rubles.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-2.24	184.93	13.613
Lukoil	-0.61	5100	3.752
Gazprom	-0.7	155.4	2.125
Rosneft	+0.54	418	1.354
Norilsk Nickel	-0.45	13160	1.331

(66.2550 rubles – U.S. $1)

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