Sberbank propels stocks higher, oil prices, foreign environment help

MOSCOW, Jan 31 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks grew on Wednesday propelled by top lender Sberbank, a favorable external background and stabilization of oil prices, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index rose 0.42% to 2,289.99 and the RTS increased 0.58% to 1,282.36

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Sofya Kirsanova, an analyst at managing company Raiffeisen Capital, said that the market was supported by a 2.60% rise in Sberbank common shares to 264.50 rubles, securing about a half of the increase of the MOEX Russia Index.

Andrei Kochetkov, an analyst at Otkritie Broker, said that Sberbank was overheated significantly. “On the other hand, securities of Sberbank are usually seen as a derivative of relation of foreigners towards all Russian assets,” he said.

Daniil Yegorov, head of the trade strategy department at Swiss brokerage house Dukascopy Bank SA, said that the positive external background and stabilization of oil prices supported Russian companies’ shares.

“Despite the U.S. Treasury Department confirmation that it will apply sanctions on people mentioned in the Kremlin Report, investors don’t pay much attention to it because they think that restrictions will be limited to arrest of assets and prohibition to enter the U.S.,” Kirsanova said.

“A report on OFZ federal bonds is of a higher importance for the stock market, but its expanded edition will be published tomorrow, this is why it had little impact on the trade today.”

Kirsanova also said that metals giant Norilsk Nickel also helped the Russian stock market growing 1.09% to 11,608 rubles. The company posted positive operating report for 2017, confirmed its plans for 2018, and may show strong financial results for 2017 taking into account that world prices for all metals that Norilsk Nickel produces traded above average annual levels in October–December 2017, Kirsanova said.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	+2.60	264.50	16.694
Gazprom	-0.10	143.36	6.329
Lukoil	+0.40	3728.00	3.856
Magnit	-1.64	5330.00	2.427
Norilsk Nickel	+1.09	11608.00	2.023

(56.2914 rubles – U.S. $1)

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