Russian stocks fall on worsened foreign sentiment, corporate news

MOSCOW, Apr 27 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market closed lower on Tuesday dragged by worsened foreign moods and a number of corporate stories, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 0.29% to 3,600.60 and the RTS decreased 0.22% to 1,516.01.

“The MOEX Russia Index and the RTS moved to a decline by the end of trading amid worsening of moods abroad, as well as number of corporate news,” Veles Capital analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

The foreign background was mixed. Trading in the U.S. started without single dynamics of three main indices, which were losing 0.1–0.2% by the end of the Russian session. Moderately negative moods were seen on European floors.

The nearest futures for Brent and WTI oil were adding around 0.5% in the second half of the session amid news about the cancellation of the OPEC+ meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

The Moscow Exchange was among growth leaders, adding 2%. Metals giant Norilsk Nickel’s shares switched to an increase in the second half of the trading session rising by 1.57% on news about a U.S. $2 billion share buyback.

Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK), steel producer Severstal, and steelmaker Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) were among outsiders, losing 5.83%, 3.42%, and 2.99%, respectively, after the Federal Antimonopoly Service opened cases against these companies for monopolistically high prices for flat-rolled products.  

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Norilsk Nickel	+1.57	26860.00	23.747
Sberbank	+0.76	297.50	17.831
MMK	-5.83	65.20	10.213
Severstal	-3.42	1811.80	6.585
Gazprom	-0.63	231.75	6.373

(74.7680 rubles – U.S. $1)

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