Russian stocks trade mixed, close higher on positive stat data

MOSCOW, Apr 13 (PRIME) -- The Russian stock market spent the day in uncertain dynamics, but managed to close in the positive territory on Thursday thanks to the support of macroeconomic data, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index grew 0.23% to 2,544.28 and the RTS increased 0.77% to 982.94.

“Mixed dynamics were seen on the Russian stocks market during the day on Thursday. Neither the buyers nor the sellers demonstrated no high activity,” Freedom Finance Global’s Senior Analyst Natalya Milchakova said.

Local purchases were supported by the March data showing significant growth of China’s energy imports including imports of hydrocarbons from Russia, and the market was also supported by the release of the March data by the Federal State Statistics Service indicating a slowdown of the annual inflation to 3.5%, Milchakova said.

However, bulls’ optimism was constrained by the threat of the global economic recession, she added.

Veles Broker analyst Yelena Kozhukhova said that the ruble section of the Russian stock market was pressured by profit taking in some shares.

Kozhukhova also said that the shares of Bank St. Petersburg jumped by 6.66% without any evident news.

She added that oil and gas pipe maker TMK hit record high since September 2021 on expectation of the board of directors’ decision on 2022 dividends.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-0.15	218.9	6.458
Gazprom	+0.11	178.94	4.987
Lukoil	-0.64	4640	3.811
Mechel	+0.46	174.39	3.009
UWC	+5.22	201.4	2.179

(82.0934 rubles – U.S. $1)

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