Russian stocks edge up amid lack of drivers, considerable news

MOSCOW, May 22 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks slightly increased on Friday after a flat trading session on the absence of global and domestic drivers, analysts said.

The MICEX increased 0.38% to 1,665.66 and the RTS rose 0.36% to 1,051.21.

The Russian stock market trading was mostly flat during the session due to the absence of domestic news and significant macroeconomic data, Timur Nigmatullin, an analyst at Finam, said.

Only local events, including quarterly reports and closing of registers for dividends for some companies, contributed to trading activities, he said.  

“There are no global drivers at the moment to step out of flat dynamics and as a result market participants are in no rush to take decisions concerning considerable purchases or sales,” Veles Capital said in a research note.

Norilsk Nickel fell 6.62% as the register for shareholders with the right to receive dividends closed, Nigmatullin said.

Aeroflot rose 4.89% on strong operating results of the group for April, Raiffeisen Capital analyst Sofya Kirsanova said.

Below are the MICEX’ five most active stocks on Friday:

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+1.50	74.35	9.612
VTB	+3.60	0.07777	4.969
Norilsk Nickel	-6.62	9534.00	3.338
Gazprom	+1.11	148.80	3.301
Lukoil	+0.55	2537.00	1.612

(49.9204 rubles – U.S. $1)

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