Russian stocks rise as investors think N Korea conflict eases

MOSCOW, Aug 30 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market grew on Wednesday as European markets rose on what investors perceived as easing of the U.S.–North Korea conflict and the U.S. market increased on falling chances of a soon key rate increase, analysts said.

The MICEX grew 0.99% to 2,008.88 and the RTS 1.58% to 1,084.41.

“The trading sessions in Europe and Russia have been neutral today on the back of a temporary decrease of geopolitical risks around North Korea,” Finam analyst Vasily Oleinik said.

In the evening, positive dynamics on the Russian market became more pronounced. Anastasia Sosnova, senior analyst at Bank Rossiysky Capital, said: “The external background on stock markets remained moderately positive on Wednesday, August 30. European indices added about 0.5%. Russian stock market benchmarks showed even more impressive dynamics on the back of a favorable background.”

Nikolai Ivchenko, head of the analytical department of Forex Club, said that U.S. markets grew on a decrease of chances that the key rate will rise in December.

InstaForex analyst Igor Kovalyov said that negative oil price dynamics limited the growth of the Russian market.

Oleinik said that VTB rose on the back of a central bank’s decision to bail out Otkritie Financial Corporation (FC) Bank. “The government has sent everyone a signal that all systemically important banks will be rescued, this means that few people will pay attention to deterioration of the situation in any of the large players of the financial sector.”

Gazprom fell after publishing poor financial results for January–June, Oleinik said.

Aeroflot’s report was also disappointing and the shares sunk, he said.

Below are the MICEX’ five most active stocks on Wednesday:

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+0.89	183.5	8.882
Gazprom	-0.08	118.2	3.776
Aeroflot	-3.27	198	2.905
Norilsk Nickel	+0.29	9500	2.663
VTB	+8.02	0.0648	2.204

(58.5320 – U.S. $1)

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