Russian stocks mixed as investors wait for US-Iran nuclear pact

MOSCOW, May 8 (PRIME) -- The RTS index decreased on Tuesday as investors were wary ahead of a U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision on a nuclear deal with Iran, and on the eve of the Victory Day holiday, while the MOEX Russia Index firmed on a weak ruble, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index rose 0.21% to 2,301.99, and the RTS index decreased 1.02% to 1,142.13.

“The U.S. president will make his verdict on Iran at 9:00 p.m., Moscow time, after the closing of the domestic trading floors, which will reflect the event on Thursday,” Igor Kovalyov, analyst at InstaForex, said.

Vasily Oleinik, an expert at investment company Finam, said that Russian investors are minimizing risks ahead of the holiday. The investment mood deterioration on the European trading floors is contributing to negative dynamics in Russia, he said.

Kovalyov said that Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) fell 1.05% after releasing a January–March report that said that its net profit dropped by 26%.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-1.37	226.7	12.675
Lukoil	+1.43	4180	2.859
Gazprom	+0.99	145.48	2.642
Norilsk Nickel	-0.50	11094	2.483
Rosneft	+1.24	393.05	2.266

(62.7148 rubles – U.S. $1)

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