Russian stocks increase mainly on corporate stories

MOSCOW, May 27 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market closed higher on Thursday largely due to corporate stories and a positive foreign background, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index grew 0.74% to 3,738.68 and the RTS increased 0.82% to 1,603.67.

“The MOEX Russia Index and the RTS were consolidating in positive territory by the end of trading and continued to renew their highs largely due to corporate stories,” Veles Capital analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

The foreign background was moderately positive. Trading in the U.S. started without single dynamics of three main indices, which were adding 0.1–0.3% by the end of the Russian session. Moderately positive moods were seen on European floors.

The nearest futures for Brent and WTI oil were trying to enter the positive territory by the evening and were adding less than 0.5%.

TCS Group was among growth leaders, with its global depositary receipts (GDRs) adding 9.65% after publication of the bank’s strategy.

Internet giant Mail.ru’s GDRs rose 4.83%.

Russia’s second biggest lender VTB’s shares grew 2.91% on solid financial results.

X5 Retail Group’s GDRs lost 3.3% on a dividend gap. Hydropower giant RusHydro fell 0.91% on a decrease of net profit.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+2.24	313.90	20.626
Polymetal	+1.16	1792.90	17.654
Ozon	-5.52	3815.00	14.674
Gazprom	-0.42	261.98	14.006
Norilsk Nickel	+0.14	27024.00	9.617

(73.4737 rubles – U.S. $1)

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