Russian stocks trade mixed, close higher following global mood

MOSCOW, Mar 25 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market demonstrated mixed trading during the day and managed to close higher on Wednesday following the sentiments of the global markets, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index grew 1.52% to 2,452.69 and the RTS rose 1.70% to 981.69.

“The MOEX Russia and the RTS indices broke through the psychologically important marks of 2,500 and 1,000 in the first half of the day, but then reversed… The sentiments on the global stock and commodity exchanges were mixed,” Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said.

Panic sales stopped on most markets and investors are inclined to purchases, but bulls need additional drivers for further growth, and a lack of such factors may return the market to negative dynamics, she added.

Otkritie Broker analyst Andrei Kochetkov said that the Brent crude price fell to U.S. $26 per barrel during the day.

Metals companies, diamond miner ALROSA and independent gas producer Novatek were among the top gainers thanks to normalization of the epidemiological situation in China, he added.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-2.37	188.08	36.048
Gazprom	+1.26	180.2	20.720
Norilsk Nickel	+4.74	19.930	16.836
Lukoil	+2.14	4590	13.254
Rosneft	+2.09	304.75	11.180

(78.8493 rubles – U.S. $1)

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