Russian stocks may ease at opening amid uncertain environment

MOSCOW, Jul 9 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market may ease at the opening in light of a neutral external background, and will follow global trends later in the day on Tuesday, analysts said.

"We see the external background as neutral ahead of the Russian stock market's trading session. The domestic benchmarks are highly likely to open slightly lower, further dynamics will depend on external drivers and local investors' sentiment," analysts of investment company Solid said.

Asian floors are seen lower, and crude prices are in the negative territory as well, despite mounting tensions between Iran and Western states, they added.

Olma senior analyst Anton Startsev said that the RTS index will likely consolidate around the 1,400 mark as investors' appetites are pressured by geopolitical risks. Traders are waiting for U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech in Congress later this week which can shine a spotlight on the authority's key interest rate plans.

Real estate developer LSR Group and fertilizer producer PhosAgro may open gap down as they will start trading ex-dividend.

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