Russian stocks grow on oil price rise as political tensions escalate

MOSCOW, Oct 13 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market closed in the green zone on Friday on the back of an oil price increase conditioned mostly by escalating geopolitical tensions across the world, analysts said.

The MICEX rose 0.18% to 2,098.77 and the RTS increased 1.11% to 1,156.64.

“Another mood change on the oil market was the main reason for a start of growth of the local indices. Brent oil contracts have confidently exceeded the U.S. $57 per barrel notch today. This way, they have reset their weekly high,” Vitaly Manzhos, a senior risk manager at investment company Nord Capital, said.

Manzhos said that the continuing escalation of the global political crises, mainly the Kurdistan independence announcement and the U.S.–South Korea’s plans to launch military drills on the shores of the Korean Peninsula, spurred growth of oil prices.

According to Otkritie Broker analyst Timur Nigmatullin, foreign markets formed a positive background for the Russian trading session with both S&P futures and pan-European Stoxx 600 rising.

Manzhos said that the positive dynamics of the MICEX was limited by weak U.S. retail sales statistics for October.

Nigmatullin said that Magnit’s securities were under pressure after the retailer bought a local Novosibirsk’s retail chain Holiday Classic, as the deal can impair the free cash flow of Magnit.

Yandex fell 0.27% on information by Gett, a competitor in taxi service, that Yandex Taxi is manipulating user data.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+0.5	196.48	5.962
Norilsk Nickel	+3.3	10490	5.080
Gazprom	+0.74	126.86	3.005
Lukoil	-0.56	3018	1.450
Magnit	-2.01	9540	1.268

(57.6869 rubles – U.S. $1)

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