Russian stocks may rise on neutral background, oil price growth

MOSCOW, Dec 14 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks may slightly grow at the opening on Thursday amid a neutral background and oil prices trying to win back part of earlier suffered losses, analysts said.

“We expect the Russian stock market to open around 2,130–2,135 points at the MOEX Russia Index, assuming that amid a neutral foreign background and ahead of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) comments on economy and monetary policy this stock indicator will make fluctuations around current levels reacting to ongoing events,” Oleg Shagov, head of the investment company Solid’s research department, said.

Vitaly Manzhos, a senior risk manager at investment company Nord Capital, expects the MOEX Russia Index to open around 2,130–2,135 points.

The ultimate influence of key external factors that have a significant impact on the Russian financial market is close to neutral today, Shagov said.

Brent oil futures are fluctuating around U.S. $62.8 per barrel partially winning back losses of the previous trading day suffered on the back of released data about growth of the U.S. oil production to new historical highs.

The leading U.S. stock index futures are not changing much and main Asian stock indicators are not showing single dynamics.

Investors will focus on the annual news conference of President Vladimir Putin later in the day, Shagov said.

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