Russian stocks edge up on neutral environ supported by oil prices

MOSCOW, Apr 2 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market advanced on Friday amid a holiday on Western bourses and the support of stronger crude prices, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index grew 0.87% to 3,558.22 and the RTS increased 0.64% to 1,466.71.

“The MOEX Russia and the RTS indices stayed in the positive territory by the end of the trading session, but failed to break through this week’s highest of 3,576 and 1,487. The ruble-denominated benchmark still looks capable of hitting new highs, at least, 3,600, but growth impulse is not very strong now,” Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

Global stock exchanges were closed on Friday due to the Easter holidays, but U.S. indices futures demonstrated positive signals after publishing sound labor market data for March, she added.

Otkritie Broker analyst Andrei Kochetkov said that the domestic stocks were supported by crude prices strengthening in light of OPEC+’s confidence that demand for oil will soon recover.

TCS Group, which includes Tinkoff Bank, and oil and gas pipe maker TMK were among the best performers both rising by 2.87%.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+0.51	291.72	5.121
Surgutneftegas	+2.27	36.89	4.533
Norilsk Nickel	+0.26	23838	2.964
Gazprom	+0.58	228.25	2.664
VTB Bank	+0.43	0.042765	1.535

(75.8073 rubles – U.S. $1)

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