Russian stocks fall on panic environ caused by coronavirus

MOSCOW, Jan 27 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks decreased significantly on Monday on panic sentiments on the global market thanks to further spread outside China of the new virus causing pneumonia, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 1.94% to 3,085.16 and the RTS dropped 3.62% to 1,541.90.

“The Russian stock market suffered serious losses due to the external environment. The energy market situation pressured domestic stocks as the nearest Brent oil futures lost over 1.5% to U.S. $59.5 per barrel,” senior analyst at Promsvyazbank Bogdan Zvarich said.

Dynamics of the Western floors also encouraged sales. Major European indices fell up to 2.4% and the U.S. Dow Jones and S&P500 benchmarks declined 1.3–1.4% in the first 30 minutes of trading, Zvarich added.

Freedom Finance analysts said that investors fled from energy commodities and shares and increased investment in bonds and gold on panic sentiments caused by the new coronavirus spreading outside China.

Local precious metals producers Polyus and Polymetal International were among the best performers adding 5.48% and 1.55%, respectively.

National flagship carrier Aeroflot was among the biggest losers, declining 3.59% on threats of quarantine and ban on flights to several regions of the world.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Gazprom	-2.94	230.96	24.397
Sberbank	-3.83	255.32	14.573
Lukoil	-1.13	6545	7.010
Norilsk Nickel	-0.42	21100	4.675
Aeroflot	-3.59	110.7	2.817

(61.8031 rubles – U.S. $1)

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