Russian stocks fall on low activity ahead of New Year holidays

MOSCOW, Dec 24 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks decreased on Thursday on low trading activity ahead of long holidays on Western floors, analysts said.

The MICEX fell 0.29% to 1,742.71 and the RTS decreased 0.56% to 781.10.

“The RTS index went into minus under influence of a noticeable depreciation of the ruble against the U.S. dollar,” Bank Obrazovanie’s senior analyst Vitaly Manzhos said.

A part of Western markets is already closed today and some trade floors are operating in a shortened mode ahead of the Christmas holidays, the analyst said.

Trading activity will be even lower on Friday as foreign markets will be closed for Christmas celebration, Veles Capital analyst Alexander Kostyukov said.

Shares of oil and gas companies increased on the oil price rebound, analysts also said.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-1.56	101.35	7.360
Gazprom	+0.52	136.00	5.030
Norilsk Nickel	-0.70	9344.00	1.622
Sberbank pref	+0.28	75.88	1.584
Lukoil	+0.40	2325.30	1.437

(70.9333 rubles – U.S. $1)

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