Russian stocks mixed on weaker ruble, positive foreign backdrop

MOSCOW, Dec 15 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market finished Tuesday with no single dynamics amid the ongoing weakening of the ruble and the overall positive external background, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index increased 0.55% to 2,150.92 and the RTS decreased 1.72% to 960.51.

“The Russian stock market showed no single dynamics by the end of the main session on Tuesday” on the weakening of the ruble, Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

The ruble failed to turn to upward correction, while Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov said that the Russian economy will benefit from the ruble’s rate of U.S. $70–80, she added.

According to Dmitry Babin, stock market expert at BCS World of Investment, the ruble strengthened to some extent at the start of trade but lost positions later in the day. The external background was positive, with global stock floors rising after a day off on Monday.

Management company Alfa-Capital’s senior trader Vladislav Silayev said that the weakening of the ruble and some restoration of oil quotations “support the market quite well.”

The transport sector’s companies looked better than the others and some points of growth appeared in blue chips, which was confirmed by Rosneft rising on recent corporate news about the approval of dividend payment, Silayev said.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.52	140.22	5.180
Gazprom	+0.88	163.55	3.146
Lukoil	+0.51	4030.50	1.425
Norilsk Nickel	+1.41	15262	1.402
Magnit	+0.02	4443	0.965

 (68.4487 rubles – U.S. $1)

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