Russian stocks rise on calm foreign backdrop, strong crude oil

MOSCOW, Jan 12 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market closed with an increase on Wednesday thanks to positive crude oil prices dynamics and investors’ extinguished concern about geopolitical hypertension, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index grew 1.18% to 3,829.95 and the RTS increased 1.09% to 1,612.80.

“The Russian stock market ended the trading session with positive dynamics. The optimism was based on the positive mood of investors on external platforms, lower geopolitical tensions, as well as the growth of oil prices above U.S. $84.3 per barrel of the Brent oil blend,” Alexandra Ovchinnikova of Sber Asset Management said.

Global trading platforms supported the Russian stocks with their overwhelming positivity, as the U.S. indices edged up on investors’ confidence despite inflation breaking the 1982 record, and European stocks traded in the green zone, Yelena Kozhukhova, analyst at Veles Capital, said.

According to Alfa Capital senior analyst Vladislav Silayev, the Russian stock market continued to strengthen steadily. The shares of oil and gas sector companies noticeably increased in price with the support of stable growth in commodity quotations, while the rest of the companies pulled up next.

As Silayev said, Beluga, the shares of TCS Group, Acron and RUSAL were the leaders in demand, gaining from 2.91% to 4.62%, while the shares of Fix Price, MMK, Aeroflot and Polyus Gold led the sale-off list, losing from 1.25% to 3.33% over the trading session.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.48	290.49	19.932
Gazprom	+0.93	346.93	15.188
Norilsk Nickel	+1.08	23990	9.901
Lukoil	+1.98	6951	7.083
Yandex	+1.47	4402	4.646

(74.8355 – U.S. $1)

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