Russian stocks mixed amid negative background, stronger ruble

MOSCOW, Dec 5 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks closed mixed on Tuesday amid a negative foreign background, oil prices falling almost the entire trading day, and a strengthened ruble, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 0.27% to 2,113.69 and the RTS increased 0.03% to 1,134.25.

“Clearly negative moods prevailed on the Russian stock market today… All sectors of the Russian market are demonstrating negative dynamics today, with the biggest losses seen in the electric power sector,” Finam expert Vasily Oleinik said.

Otkritie Broker analyst Alexander Kochetkov said that the negative foreign background ensured the general pessimistic sentiment, while the strengthening ruble put additional pressure on exporters. Gas giant Gazprom fell 0.09%, metals giant Norilsk Nickel lost 0.88%, Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) decreased 0.61%, and steel maker Severstal went down 0.86%, Kochetkov said.  

Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port (NCSP) decreased 1.56% after reporting that its net profit fell 26.5% on the year to U.S. $359.354 million in January–September, as calculated under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Oil company Bashneft added 4.2% on reports that its shareholders approved paying 26.345 billion rubles in dividends for January–September.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.31	223.91	6.226
Tatneft	-0.93	506.70	1.828
Gazprom	-0.09	133.65	1.692
Aeroflot	+1.24	146.40	1.488
Lukoil	+0.37	3403.00	1.400

(58.9911 rubles – U.S. $1)

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