Russian stocks mixed on divs, strong ruble, looming new sanctions

MOSCOW, May 30 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market closed mixed on Monday, with the MOEX Russia Index falling as investors were mostly disappointed with the dividends stories and expected the announcement of the sixth package of the E.U. sanctions, while the RTS was again pushed upward on the back of the ruble’s strengthening, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 0.30% to 2,400.39 and the RTS increased 7.21% to 1,215.74.

“The Russian stock market did not show single dynamics as it was under pressure of geopolitical factors and the ruble’s dynamics,” Veles Capital’s analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

The ruble grew by about 6.5–7.5% against the U.S. dollar and the euro to about 62.50 rubles and 64.20 rubles, respectively.

Many companies announced during the day that they will not pay final dividends for 2021 and their stocks mostly fell on the news.

Mechel’s preferred shares and common share rose 13.6% and 2.47%, respectively, on anticipation of a decision by the board of directors on dividends for 2021. Inter RAO grew 3.05% thanks to similar anticipation.

The U.S. markets were closed because of Memorial Day, while the E.U. markets showed moderately positive sentiment.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Gazprom	+2.14	300.80	9.259
Sberbank	-0.45	120.67	3.086
Rosneft	-4.08	385.1	2.769
Lukoil	-1.63	4220	1.752
Sberbank pref	+0.23	111.84	0.947

(66.4029 rubles – U.S. $1)

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