Russian stocks rise slightly thanks to support of foreign floors

MOSCOW, May 8 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market edged up moderately on Friday backed by the dynamics of foreign stock exchanges, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index grew 0.29% to 2,641.55 and the RTS rose 0.88% to 1,136.34.

“The Russian stock market demonstrated a moderate rise amid a mixed foreign background on Friday. The local shares were pressured by the situation on the global energy market with the nearest Brent oil futures failing to stay above U.S. $30 per barrel despite some growth,” senior analyst at Promsvyazbank Bogdan Zvarich said.

On the other hand, the market was supported by Western bourses’ dynamics. Major European benchmarks increased by up to 1.3%, and the U.S.’s Dow Jones and S&P500 grew 1.4% and 1.2%, respectively, in the first hours of trading, he added.

Zvarich said that the Moscow Exchange and power company Federal Grid Company of Unified Energy Systems (FGC UES) were the top performers rising over 2%.

Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that real estate developer LSR Group was among the biggest losers falling 4.19% as the stock was trading ex-dividend.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Gazprom	-0.27	185.34	11.259
Lukoil	-0.14	4832	7.761
Sberbank	+0.26	196.02	6.618
Rosneft	+1.46	348	3.294
Norilsk Nickel	-0.4	20144	2.600

(74.1169 rubles – U.S. $1)

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