Russian stocks flat, investors waiting for US–China statements

MOSCOW, Oct 15 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market closed near the start of the trading session on Tuesday on the back of a worldwide uncertainty over continuing U.S.–China trade talks, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index grew 0.66% to 2,715.26, and the RTS index rose 0.75% to 1,331.03.

“The Russian market is waiting for a clearer trend on the global markets,” Yaroslav Kabakov, director for strategies at investment company Finam, said.

“This is no secret that verbal interventions about the (U.S.–China) trade deal can destabilize the market anytime but the start of a reporting season and expectations of growth of the companies will support the market in spite of not so optimistic forecasts as compared with the previous periods,” Kabakov said. He added that the U.S. trading session started with a moderate optimism.

Dmitry Babin, stock market expert at BCS Broker, said that global markets started to rise in the evening, Moscow time, after the start of the U.S. trading session, and the upward dynamics of the Russian market became more robust.

The oil prices stabilized above U.S. $59.38, according to Kabakov, because the focus of investors’ attention switched to the forthcoming U.S.–China negotiations.

According to Babin, Lukoil was the market leader as the company’s board of directors is scheduled to discuss interim dividends on Wednesday.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Lukoil	+2.78	5601.5	9.953
Sberbank	+0.44	229.4	7.028
Gazprom	0	226	4.099
Yandex	+0.56	1986.6	2.578
Norilsk Nickel	+0.51	16022	2.033

(64.3652 rubles – U.S. $1)

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