Russian stocks seen flat amid lack of major drivers

MOSCOW, Jul 19 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks may open flat on Thursday amid a mixed foreign background and a lack of major drivers, analysts said.

“We expect the MOEX Russia Index to open with an insignificant change, around the level of 2,295 points. The nearest support levels will be 2,280 and 2,270 points, while the levels of 2,310 and 2,320 points will remain the main resistance,” Vitaly Manzhos, a senior risk manager at investment company Nord Capital, said.

Before the start of trading in Russia, the U.S. stock index futures are balancing on the verge of positive and negative deviation, Brent oil futures lost 0.2%, gold futures lost 0.4%, Japan’s Nikkei225 added 0.1%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng decreased 0.1%, Manzhos said.

Olma senior analyst Anton Startsev said the foreign background does not so far give grounds for major movements of the RTS index, as the situation on global markets, including commodities, remains uncertain.

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