Russian stocks may open flat or rise slightly on neutral conditions

MOSCOW, Sep 12 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market may open flat or slightly higher and demonstrate mixed dynamics during the day influenced by a bunch of oil statistics data and local corporate events on Tuesday.

“We expect the Russian stock market to open (slightly higher) at 2,045 of the MICEX benchmark to continue its attempts to break through a 2,050 mark backed by improving external background and in line with the previous days’ dynamics,” Oleg Shagov, head of investment company Solid’s research department, said.

Shagov sees the global environment as neutral today with the Brent oil price fluctuating around U.S. $53.8 per barrel ahead of OPEC’s monthly output report and a release of the U.S. crude stocks statistics.

Alor Broker analyst Kirill Yakovenko said the Russian market will be looking for an equilibrium point amid a mixed foreign background. The expert expects the RTS index to slid slightly by 0.2–0.5% during the day.

The major U.S. indices futures look flat and Asian markets demonstrate positive dynamics. Europe’s market will also likely open higher.

In Russia, traders are also waiting for a statement by the country’s top lender Sberbank CEO German Gref that will follow a meeting of the bank’s supervisory committee to discuss operations in January–June and financial results in January–August.

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