Russian stocks edge up, focus on geopolitical factors

MOSCOW, Apr 4 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market edged up on Monday ignoring the external background and still focusing on the geopolitical factor, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index grew 1.02% to 2,787.69 and the RTS increased 1.75% to 1,051.68.

“The Russian stock market tried to continue rising on Monday. Investors again ignored the external background and were still focused on the geopolitical factor. Besides, investors put the expected support of the National Wealth Fund and future buybacks by the companies into the prices,” senior analyst at financial supermarket Banki.Ru Bogdan Zvarich said.

The MOEX Russia Index tried to consolidate above 2,800, but failed, he added.

Petropavlovsk Plc, which operates gold deposits in Russia, and VTB Bank were among the top gainers, adding 10.76% and 11.56%, respectively.

Fertilizers maker PhosAgro and realty developer PIK lost more than 3%.

Zvarich said that the ruble strengthened against the main foreign currencies, but there are no reasons for the further strengthening.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+7.44	166	18.623
Gazprom	+0.6	252.9	10.334
VTB Bank	+11.56	0.0251	7.256
Yandex	-1.72	2285	4.073
Rosneft	-1.36	443.9	2.379

(83.4285 rubles – U.S. $1)

End