Russian stocks mixed amid volatile oil, ahead of Fed comments

MOSCOW, Jun 19 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks closed mixed on Wednesday after falling almost the entire trading day amid volatile oil prices and expectations of decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve System (Fed), analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 0.09% to 2,759.12 and the RTS gained 0.14% to 1,361.14.

“The MOEX Russia Index and the RTS Index remained in the correctional minus by the end of trading on Wednesday after reaching new annual highs at the beginning of the day,” Veles Capital analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

Trading on the U.S. stock exchanges started with an increase of three main indices, which were trading mixed by the end of the Russian session, as market participants are waiting for decisions and comments by the Fed. Trading in Europe was on a neutral note.

Oil quotations were volatile the entire trading day and were gaining 0.11% at 6:48 p.m. Moscow time.  

Coal producer Raspadskaya and power utility Unipro were among growth leaders, adding 6.19% and 3.4%, respectively, Kozhukhova said. Independent gas producer Novatek and Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) were among outsiders, losing 2.63% and 1.28%, respectively.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.58	240.40	8.157
Gazprom	+0.14	232.46	7.427
Lukoil	+0.29	5245.00	4.480
Norilsk Nickel	+0.8	14868.00	2.727
ALROSA	+2	90.08	1.877

(64.3352 rubles – U.S. $1)

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