Russian stocks edge down despite optimism on foreign markets

MOSCOW, Jul 13 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market demonstrated a fall on Monday despite a positive environment on the global stock and energy markets, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 1.22% to 2,766.79 and the RTS dropped 0.90% to 1,234.50.

“The Russian stock market failed to continue the upward dynamics on Monday despite a positive external environment… The market tried to consolidate within the 2,800–2,850 range at the beginning of the trading session, and reached its middle, but a significant drop in blue chips triggered a fall into the negative territory,” senior analyst at Promsvyazbank Bogdan Zvarich said.

European bourses and futures for the major U.S. benchmarks were seen 1.4–1.7% higher, and the energy market demonstrated neutral dynamics with the Brent oil price consolidating at around U.S. $43.3 per barrel, he added.

Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that the shares of metals giant Norilsk Nickel fell 3.05% after a spill of kerosene into a lake on the Taimyr Peninsula.

Precious metals producer Polyus lost 2.41% as gold prices got stuck, she added.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Gazprom	-2.21	196.5	11.411
Sberbank	-1	210.16	10.116
Norilsk Nickel	-3.05	17984	8.735
Lukoil	-2.78	4956.5	5.623
Polyus	-2.41	12853	2.643

(71.2298 rubles – U.S. $1)

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