Russian stocks rise on good macroeconomic statistics

MOSCOW, Aug 3 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks grew on Monday together with the majority of foreign bourses as releases of robust macroeconomic statistics for China as well as for Germany and other countries of Europe reinvigorated investors, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index rose 0.63% to 2,929.97 and the RTS increased 1.86% to 1,257.42.

“The national market showed a consistent growth in the first half of the day reading to data on robust industrial performance in China and in Europe,” Andrei Kochetkov, Otkritie Broker’s lead analyst for global research, said.

Veles Capital’s analyst Yelena Kozhukhova also said that the Russian market grew following foreign bourses, namely the European ones.

“The mood in the region (of Europe) changed for a more optimistic one as final data on business activity indices in manufacturing sectors of Germany and the Eurozone in July outperformed expectations. The figures stood at 51 and 51.8, respectively, signaling an expansion in the industry,” she said, adding that futures for U.S. stock indices also grew during the day supported by the European trade session.

“International floors are going through a wave of the great ascent. After the release of positive data on the industrial output growth in Europe and Asia, key indices soared into the green zone… The oil price made a U-turn after the morning downward correction. … Given this background, Russian indices spent the day on the positive note,” Valery Yemelyanov, analyst at Freedom Finance, said.

The Brent oil price gained 1.65% to U.S. $44.24 per barrel as of 6.25 p.m. Moscow time, according to the ICE exchange.

Kochetkov also said that shares of titanium giant VSMPO-Avisma lost 1.75% to 17,940 rubles as the company’s board of directors recommended paying zero dividends for 2019 and paying no bonuses to its members and to members of the supervisory board for the period of May 21–September 3.

Shares of gold producer Petropavlovsk Plc decreased by 3.67% to 37.28 rubles following the news that the company had decided to issue a 9.8% stake in order to convert bonds, he said.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+2.23	226.52	14.207
Norilsk Nickel	+2.04	20050.00	5.447
Gazprom	+0.36	183.25	4.920
Lukoil	-0.86	5044.00	3.839
Polyus	-0.76	16820.50	3.043

(73.4264 rubles – U.S. $1)

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