Russian stocks flat on oil price fall, foreign background issues

MOSCOW, Oct 9 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market closed with little changes on Monday on the back of an oil price fall and news of new troubles in relations of the U.S. and Turkey, and the U.S. and North Korea, analysts said.

The MICEX grew 0.12% to 2096.29 and the RTS fell 0.16% to 1,132.45.

“It was hard for the Russian market to demonstrate positive dynamics in response to a nice external background. Investors were held down by oil which continued to correct after Friday’s slide and just would not attract buyers,” Igor Kovalyov, an analyst at InstaForex group of companies, said.

The Brent oil blend decreased 0.20% to U.S. $55.51 per barrel as of 4:08 p.m. Moscow time.

The U.S. embassy in Ankara suspended granting non-migrant visas to Turkish citizens on October 8 after arrest of an employee of the U.S. embassy in Turkey. Finam analyst Vasily Oleinik said that this is a new risk factor for the Russian market.

Statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, targeting North Korea were also worrisome to investors, the analyst said. 

Irina Rogova, an analyst at Forex Club, said that market expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve System and the European Central Bank will raise the rates in a foreseeable future are limiting the market growth.

But in the evening, the Russian market took back some of the losses. According to Otkritie Broker analyst Timur Nigmatullin, this happened due to growth of the U.S. S&P 500 futures and of the European index Stoxx 600.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.08	194	5.373
Gazprom	+1.09	124.81	2.736
Norilsk Nickel	+1.21	10.438	1.448
Lukoil	-0.25	3052,5	1.305
Rosneft	-0.47	319.1	1.209

(57.7612 rubles – U.S. $1)

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