Russian stocks fall over sanctions risks, oil price cap expectations

MOSCOW, Oct 7 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market decreased on Friday on expectations of Russian oil price restrictions and the absence of any solid ideas for growth amid the global risk aversion and increased sanctions pressure, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index decreased 3.76% to 1,944.75 and the RTS fell 3.81% to 1,005.04.

“Despite high quotations of Brent oil, which rose above U.S. $96 per barrel, there were sales in the oil and gas sector on expectations of Russian oil price restrictions. Shares of Lukoil, Rosneft, Surgutneftegas were down. Tatneft and Gazprom fell ahead of Monday's dividend cut-offs,” Promsvyazbank’s senior analyst Vladimir Lyashchuk said.

He also said that Gazprom's quotes continued to fall, despite a high dividend yield of 25% for the first half of the year, indicating market weakness.

Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that the stock market ended Friday's trading in a significant loss having failed to find any solid ideas for growth amid the global risk aversion and intensified sanctions pressure.

Beluga's shares were rising ahead of next week's closing of the dividend register for the first half of the year with a payout of 150 rubles per share and a yield of 5.5%, she said.

Shares of Polyus and other gold miners retreated from local highs on Friday, which can be explained by a return to lower gold prices, which once again fell below the psychologically important mark of $1,700 per ounce, she also said.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Gazprom	-5.38	201.4	15.755
Sberbank	-4.07	103.83	7.123
Lukoil	-1.29	3989	1.946
Rosneft	-4.17	274.85	1.868
Polyus	-6.66	5425	1.573

(60.2534 rubles – U.S. $1)

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