Russian stocks mixed on corporate news, weak ruble

MOSCOW, Sep 29 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market closed with mixed dynamics on Friday amid corporate stories, the weakening ruble and growing oil prices, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index rose 0.81% to 3,133.26 and the RTS decreased 0.34% to 1,007.58.

“The Russian stock market did not show any unified dynamics by the end of the main trades on Friday, having retreated from intraday highs on the background of corporate and currency factors,” Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

Preferred and common shares of Surgutneftegas, increasing by 6.17% and 3.81% respectively, showed the highest growth by the end of the session.

According to Kozhukhova, one of the reason for their growth could be the weakening of the ruble.

“Shares of oil and gas and metallurgical segments looked better than others. The return of oil to price growth and weakening of the ruble worked in favor of oil sector companies,” Senior Trader at managing company Alfa-Capital Vladislav Silayev said.

According to Alexei Golovinov, chief analyst at PSB Bank, exporters felt better than others on the market amid the falling ruble.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+1.49	261.5	16.541
Surgutneftegas prefs	+6.58	56.65	8.158
Softline	+7.74	216.02	6.954
Lukoil	+0.58	6684	5.619
Gazprom	-1.26	167.44	5.501

(97.0018 rubles – U.S. $1)

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