Russian stocks rise on corporate news, absence of external news

MOSCOW, Dec 26 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market increased on Monday on corporate news and in the absence of external news as Christmas holidays continue in the U.S., the  U.K. and the E.U., analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index rose 0.72% to 2,139.21 and the RTS increased 1.43% to 977.29.

“In the absence of external news, the Russian market grew on positive corporate news, as well as thanks to undervaluation of many companies,” Freedom Finance Global’s Senior Analyst Natalya Milchakova said.

Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that the Russian stock market was consolidating in the plus by the end of the main session, getting support from growth of such "heavyweights" as Sberbank and Rosneft.

The biggest gains by the end of the session were shown by shares of Segezha, Magnit, Sberbank, RussNeft, Rosneft and Gazprom Neft.

Sberbank’s shares grew on positive corporate news presented by First Deputy Chairman Alexander Vedyakhin and Rosneft’s shares on shareholders’ approval of an interim dividend payment, Kozhukhova said.

Gazprom Neft shares have been rising steadily for more than a day in a row, reaching their highest level since February 21, making up for losses since the start of the current geopolitical crisis, Kozhukhova said.

The biggest declines were in shares of Qiwi, Cian, X5 Retail Group and M. Video.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+1.99	140.68	6.387
Gazprom	+0.88	162.3	2.267
Lukoil	+0.22	4019.5	1.427
Rosneft	+1.92	349.9	1.025
Gazprom Neft	+1.79	505	0.969

(68.6760 rubles – U.S. $1)

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