Russian stocks edge down pressured by global pessimism

MOSCOW, Aug 14 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market consolidated in the negative territory during the day on Friday and finished the day lower in light of a moderately negative foreign environment, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 0.6% to 3,061.99 and the RTS eased 0.18% to 1,323.80.

“The MOEX Russia Index and the RTS index stayed in the negative territory at the end of the trading session, pressured by moderate global negativity… The benchmarks’ downward correction from the recent peaks does not look dangerous for bulls now,” Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

Main U.S. stocks indices were seen mixed within a 0.3% range in the first hours of trading, European bourses and oil prices also demonstrated discouraging dynamics, she added.

Diamond miner ALROSA fell 2.80% after releasing weak International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) financial results for April–June with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) halving on the year.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.78	239.5	10.209
Yandex	+0.55	4389.8	8.986
Gazprom	-0.39	193	5.502
Lukoil	-0.56	5282	3.662
Norilsk Nickel	-0.62	20800	3.486

(73.6067 rubles – U.S. $1)

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