Stocks close mixed on negative environment, geopolitical uncertainty

MOSCOW, Dec 28 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks closed mixed on Thursday in thin trade as a negative external background and a rising ruble supported the RTS index, while a few staunch investors took profits worried about a possible impact from geopolitical events in the first week of 2018, analysts said.

The MOEX Russia Index fell 0.16% to 2,102.89 and the RTS increased 0.14% to 1,150.58.

“Russian stocks were in the red zone after unsuccessful attempts to grow as they gave way to a negative mood of the European trade floors…Moreover, the final working week of the year saw a noticeable decrease in players, while many remaining investors decided to take profits,” Andrei Dirgin, director of the analytical department at Alfa-Forex, said.

Daniil Yegorov, head of the trade strategies department at Swiss brokerage house Dukascopy Bank SA, said that the Russian ruble grew against the U.S. dollar supported by rising oil prices, which helped the RTS index to stay flat on the day.

“In general, many players wrapped up their activities for the coming week and a half in order not to fall under an unexpected impact of the January holidays. Washington is expected to make some statements at the beginning of next year, so these risks are connected with possible new U.S. restrictions within the framework of global competition,” Andrei Kochetkov, an analyst at Otkritie Broker, said.

Shares of metals giant Norilsk Nickel outperformed the market and grew 0.69% to 10,694 rubles as the world’s copper prices grew to their highest point over the past three and a half years, Kochetkov said.

Igor Kovalyov, an analyst at InstaForex, said that shares of power grid company Rosseti grew 2.35% to 0.8224 rubles as investors priced in the company’s Wednesday statement that a new dividend policy includes payment of 50% of the net profit calculated under Russian Accounting Standards (RAS) in interim dividends.

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

Company	Change, %	Last price, rbl	Trading volume, bln rbl
Sberbank	-1.22	224.20	5.412
Gazprom	-0.35	130.53	2.124
VTB	-1.03	0.04696	0.885
Rosneft	-1.90	289.85	0.864
Lukoil	+1.02	3317.00	0.755

(57.4544 rubles – U.S. $1)

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