Russian stocks grow on US–Iran conflict resolution, risk appetite

MOSCOW, Jan 9 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market increased on Thursday on the back of a resolution of a U.S.–Iran military conflict and a high risk appetite, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index grew 0.26% to 3,118.08, and the RTS Index increased 0.80% to 1,601.74.

“The domestic market managed to price in a peaceful finale of a short U.S.–Iranian crisis already yesterday. The news background remained scarce, so investors do not have an incentive for active movements,” Otkritie Broker analyst Andrei Kochetkov said.

The oil prices fell to a pre-crisis level of U.S. $66.5 for the Brent blend on Thursday. Gold dropped beyond $1,550 per ounce, 10-year U.S. treasuries’ yield grew above 1.87%. Alen Sabitov, analyst at investment company Freedom Finance, said that these factors signal a high appetite for risky assets.

According to Kochetkov, the market ignored the news that the Russian government had approved a privatization plan for 2020–2022 and has no plans to sell stakes in large companies.

Kochetkov said that Polyus and Polymetal were the market outsiders, decreasing 1.90% and 0.53% respectively as the situation in the Middle East calmed down.

Steel companies increased after the World Bank improved the outlook for the global economy, the analyst said.

Veles Capital’s analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that Raspadskaya soared 11.31% on investor worries about delivery of coking coal to Australia due to fires.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.45	257.99	9.935
Gazprom	-0.67	254.07	8.425
Lukoil	-1.02	6430	5.725
Norilsk Nickel	-0.06	19838	3.440
Surgutneftegas	+3.16	53.645	2.750

(61.9057 – U.S. $1)

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