Russian stocks may open flat on neutral external background

MOSCOW, Nov 26 (PRIME) -- Russian stocks are likely to open flat on Thursday as neutral external background provides traders with no drivers, analysts said.

“A lull is possible at the start of today’s trading. The external background provides no reason for strong movements, the activity of global investors during the day may be low due to a holiday in the U.S.,” Olma’s senior analyst Anton Startsev said.

“The technical analysis data shows not possibility to interpret an increase of the RTS index as an upward turn and show a possibility of it entering the range of 820–840 points. The geopolitical factor is a source of an increased volatility of stock indices,” he said.

Pavel Salas, the general director for Russia and CIS at brokerage company eToro, said that the market is very likely to continue consolidation due to the absence of important political news. But stable oil prices, lower geopolitical risks and a long weekend in the U.S. due to Thanksgiving may provide some hope for continuation of an upward trend.

“The influence of key factors that provide a significant impact on the Russian stock market is close to neutral at the beginning of the day,” Oleg Shagov, a head of investment company Solid’s reserch department, said.

The MICEX index may open close to neutral, but the RTS index may rise and restore some points it lost due to previous worsening of geopolitical tensions, he said.

The Brent oil price has risen only 0.087% to U.S. $46.16 per barrel as of 9.15 a.m. Moscow time. U.S. stock index futures are virtually flat, and main Asian floors show mostly positive dynamics.

But the MICEX may also open with an about 0.3% increase close to a 1,835–1,840 point range, Vitaly Manzhos, a senior analyst at bank Obrazovanie, said. Closest support levels for the index are 1,810 and 1,800 points, while 1,840 points and 1,850 will act as resistance, he added.

During the day, investors will focus on French President Francois Hollande’s visit to Moscow to discuss terrorism fighting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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