Russian stocks increase on US–China deal optimism, oil price rise

MOSCOW, Nov 15 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market grew on Friday on the news about a forthcoming U.S.–China trade deal and rising oil prices, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index rose 0.42% to 2,934.82, and the RTS index increased 0.87% to 1,449.42.

“On the one hand, the external mood was moderately positive: an official White House representative said that the U.S and China were approaching signing of the first stage of an all-encompassing deal,” Sergei Deineka, financial analyst at BCS Premier, said.

“On the other hand, purchases on the Russian market were subdued because of the return of the sanctions topic to the news background. The international committee of the U.S. Congress Senate will hear the U.S. policies for Russia on November 20, where new anti-Russian sanctions can be discussed among other topics,” the analyst said.

Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that oil prices added about 0.5% in the evening after a volatile session. A report of the International Energy Agency (IEA) about a forecasted rise of supply by non-OPEC states in 2020 pressurized the market.

Otkritie Broker analyst Andrei Kochetkov said that En+ Group was the outsider of the trading session, falling 5.2% after reporting a significant fall of the net profit.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Gazprom	-0.13	248.01	22.159
Sberbank	+1.05	240	7.324
Lukoil	+1.26	6161	5.280
Surgutneftegas	-1.8	46.45	2.498
Norilsk Nickel	+1.46	17680	2.417

(64.2101 rubles – U.S. $1)

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