Russian stocks show unclear dynamics on mixed environment

MOSCOW, Apr 21 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market looked mixed on Friday due to a lack of drivers and investors taking profits ahead of a weekend, but managed to close slightly higher, analysts said.

The MICEX grew 0.65% to 1,944.72 and the RTS rose 0.08% to 1,084.17.

“The Russian stock indices… continued growing in early trade, but then the MICEX was stuck at about 1,950 and the RTS stopped at 1,095 due to a number of factors restraining a further uprise. First, the global environment remains tense causing corresponding risks. Second, a weekend approaches,” Anastasia Sosnova, senior analyst at Bank Rossiysky Capital, said.

Investors around the world are waiting for results of France’s presidential elections scheduled for Sunday. A victory of the E.U. supporters would be positive for the stock markets, Sosnova added.

Exporters were among the best performers on the back of the ruble weakening. Uncut diamond mining giant ALROSA added 4.43% to 93.2 rubles, aluminum giant UC RUSAL grew 2.22% to 27.21 rubles and fertilizer producer PhosAgro soared 1.99% to 2,306 rubles.

Sberbank rose 0.87% to 159.59 rubles on high volumes, still supported by the news that its supervisory board recommended more than tripling the 2016 dividends on the year to 6 rubles per share or 25% of the IFRS net profit.

Below are the MICEX’ five most active stocks on Friday:

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+0.87%	159.59	9.114
Gazprom	+0.83%	123.00	3.631
ALROSA	4.43%	93.20	2.384
Magnit	-0.44%	9070.00	1.738
Norilsk Nickel	-0.95%	8538.00	1.245

 (56.4165 rubles – U.S. $1)

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