Russian stocks fall amid worsened foreign background

MOSCOW, Nov 19 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks decreased on Thursday amid a negative sentiment on foreign exchanges and falling oil prices, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 1.11% to 3,046.49 and the RTS decreased 1.40% to 1,258.91.

“The MOEX Russia Index and the RTS remained in a moderate minus by the end of trading due to the worsening of the foreign background,” Veles Capital analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

The foreign background was moderately negative. Trading in the U.S. started with a decline of three main indices, which were trading mixed within 0.5% by the end of the Russian session. Moderately negative moods were seen on European floors.

The nearest futures for Brent and WTI oil were losing around 0.5% by the end of trading in Russia.

Aluminum giant UC RUSAL was among growth leaders, jumping by 5% on media reports about progress in talks on aluminum supplies for next year, Kozhukhova said.

Real estate developer Etalon Group’s global depositary receipts (GDRs) and electronic goods and household appliances retailer M.Video’s shares fell by 6.93% and 2.78%, respectively, amid a dividend gap. 

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-1.61	238.00	22.129
Gazprom	-0.63	183.83	9.122
Lukoil	+0.29	4904.00	5.646
Rosneft	-1.13	447.80	4.005
Norilsk Nickel	-0.35	20.648	3.266

(75.9268 rubles – U.S. $1)

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