Russian stocks mixed led by energy stocks, ruble weakening

MOSCOW, Apr 4 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market closed mixed on Tuesday with the MOEX Russia Index rising thanks to higher interest for some energy stocks and a generally favorable external background, while a weakening of the ruble pressured the RTS index, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index increased 0.29% to 2,480.45, and the RTS index fell 0.54% to 983.46.

"The Russian stock market started to rise by the middle of the session supported by demand for some issuers and a generally favorable background," Veles Capital analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

Gazprom began to rise on the news that German insurers restarted the coverage of the Nord Streams gas pipelines damaged by blasts. The Russian authorities denied plans to relaunch pumping soon, Kozhukhova said.

According to Finam analyst Kseniya Lapshina, Novatek increased 2.12% after saying it bid for a stake in the Sakhalin-2 project operator Sakhalin Energy.

Kozhukhova said that Surgutneftegas was supported by high oil prices and a ruble weakening against the U.S. dollar, because the company has a significant U.S. dollar reserve.

VTB continued its Monday’s increase ahead of a financial report for 2022 and January–February 2023, the analyst said.

Beluga soared 3.11% to its March 2021 peak as company's dividends of 400 rubles per share for 2022 translate into an attractive 8.9% yield, she said.

The foreign markets were moderately optimistic, as investors hoped that the central banks will soften their policies. The Euro Stoxx 50 rose by 0.8% in the middle of the Moscow's session, the U.S. S&P 500 futures added 0.3%, the Brent and WTI ones jumped by about 1% to U.S. $85 and $81 respectively, Kozhukhova said.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Gazprom	+0.43	171.11	12.005
VTB	+0.45	0.02	9.005
Sberbank	-0.83	214.29	8.893
Lukoil	+0.59	4500	3.820
Surgutneftegas pref	+5.05	33.71	2.862

(77.9510 rubles – U.S. $1)

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