Russian stocks mixed on rising ruble, oil prices

MOSCOW, Jul 13 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market closed mixed on Thursday as ruble strengthening was accompanied by a weak oil price rise, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index decreased by 0.39% to 2,885.63, and the RTS index grew by 0.36% to 1,008.56.

"The Russian markets demonstrated mixed dynamics on Thursday. The MOEX Russia Index decreased by up to 0.4% in correction, while the RTS index grew by 0.4% on the back of a strengthening ruble," Yevgeny Linchik, head of managing company Pervaya’s department for alternative investment, said.

"The external background was moderately positive on Thursday. Oil is rising, and positive dynamics prevailed on the global markets thanks to strong data on consumer inflation in the U.S."

The nearest Brent and WTI futures added less than 0.5% by the middle of the Russian session to near resistances of U.S. $80.30 and $75 respectively.

Veles Capital analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that although the International Energy Agency cut the 2023 global oil consumption growth forecast by 200,000 barrels per day, it still expects consumption at a record 102.1 million barrels per day.

The analyst said that investors demonstrated high interest to the shares of Bank Saint Petersburg (rising 3.33% common and 4.85% preferred), Beluga growing 2.98%, TMK adding 1.54% and PhosAgro increasing 0.56%, probably, on expectations of semiannual dividends after the companies did pay dividends for the period in 2022.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.42	246.48	6.855
Lukoil	+0.03	5501.5	3.751
Gazprom	-0.75	169.03	3.139
Norilsk Nickel	-0.27	15412	2.697
ALROSA	+0.17	76.92	2.398

(90.6253 rubles – U.S. $1)

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