Russian stocks increase on corp stories, no negative news from abroad

MOSCOW, Dec 29 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market increased on Thursday thanks to a number of corporate news and the moderately positive moods on global stock floors, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index increased 0.34% to 2,147.06 and the RTS increased 0.33% to 936.80.

“The Russian stock indices finished the main trading session in the green on Thursday. They received support from the absence of negative geopolitical news and a number of corporate news. The volume of trade continued to decrease ahead of the New Year holidays,” Finam analyst Alexander Kovalyov said.

Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that the moods on the E.U. and U.S. stock floors were positive around the end of the trading session in Russia. The U.S.’ main stock indices were rising by 0.7–1.7% thanks to reports about a stable state of the national labor market, she added.

The next futures on Brent and WTI lost about 1.5% on fears of lower demand in China at the beginning of 2023 amid a sharp deterioration of the epidemiological situation in the country, Kozhukhova said.

Sberbank returned to growth on the hope that its dividend prospects will improved next year, Kozhukhova said. Rosneft’s stocks, which remain “an interesting security in terms of the company’s orientation to the east,” rose 1.24%, she also said, adding that the company is also yet to pay dividends for January–September.

Gazprom Neft was among the loss leaders, losing 10.69% over the dividends cut off, Kovalyov said.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+0.97	140.87	4.277
Gazprom Neft	-10.69	459.75	1.855
Gazprom	+0.72	162.98	1.379
Sberbank pref	+1.65	139.97	1.076
Lukoil	+0.31	4028	1.005

 (71.3261 rubles – U.S. $1)

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