Russian stocks seen mixed amid high oil, Sberbank ex-dividend gap

MOSCOW, Jun 13 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks may open mixed on Tuesday, with the MICEX being affected by ex-dividend gap of Sberbank and the RTS growing in line with oil prices, analysts said.  

“We expect the Russian stock market to open with a decrease to 1,875 points at the MICEX index, assuming that its behavior will be negatively affected by ex-dividend gap in shares of Sberbank at the beginning of the day,” Oleg Shagov, head of investment company Solid’s research department, said. On June 9, the MICEX closed at 1,883.34.

The ultimate influence of key external factors that have a significant impact on the Russian financial market is moderately positive today, the analyst said.

Brent oil futures are maintaining above U.S. $48 per barrel in expectation of publication of data on the U.S. oil reserves, which are likely to resume decline.

The leading U.S. stock index futures are slightly growing, and main Asian stock indicators are mostly increasing, Shagov said.

The Russian stock market can be affected by ex-dividend dates for shares of Sberbank, steel producer Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK), and power producer Mosenergo, the analyst said.

Olma senior analyst Anton Startsev said some growth at the RTS index is possible at the start of trading on Tuesday following oil prices. “Brent has consolidated above $48 per barrel, which helps to ease concerns connected with a possibility of deep correction on the energy market,” he said.

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