Russian equities closed mixed on Saturday, with the headline MOEX Russia Index ending the session unchanged at a level the exchange described as a six-month low. Market breadth favored decliners as more stocks fell than rose.
At the close in Moscow, the MOEX Russia Index was unchanged - registered as 0.00% for the session and recorded a new six-months low.
On the winners' list, AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX:AFKS) led gains, rising 0.56% or 0.07 points to finish at 12.26. Retailer Magnit PJSC (MCX:MGNT) added 0.48% or 10.50 points to close at 2,205.50. Steelmaker Magnitogorskiy Metallurgicheskiy Kombinat PAO (MCX:MAGN) also advanced, up 0.29% or 0.07 points to 22.42 at the sessions end.
Among the sessions biggest declines, Polyus PJSC (MCX:PLZL) fell 1.12% or 23.20 points to close at 2,040.80. Novolipetsk Steel (MCX:NLMK) slipped 0.29% or 0.22 points to 74.50, a move that took the stock to three-year lows according to exchange data. Federal Hydro Generating Company RusHydro PJSC (MCX:HYDR) was described as unchanged, finishing at 0.38.
Market breadth on the Moscow Stock Exchange showed 131 stocks declining, 83 advancing and 20 ending the day unchanged.
Volatility measures were steady: the Russian Volatility Index - RVI, which gauges implied volatility of MOEX Russia Index options, was unchanged at 24.56 (0.00%).
Commodities trading showed notable weakness. Gold futures for August delivery fell 3.10% or 139.70 to $4,365.30 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for July delivery dropped 2.69% or 2.50 to $90.54 a barrel, while the August Brent contract declined 2.04% or 1.94 to trade at $93.09 a barrel.
Currency moves accompanied the session: USD/RUB rose 0.41% to 73.70, while EUR/RUB eased 0.36% to 84.91. The US Dollar Index Futures was reported up 0.67% at 100.05.
Market context and takeaways
- Headline index: MOEX Russia Index closed unchanged at a six-month low.
- Top performers included AFKS, MGNT and MAGN; key decliners included PLZL and NLMK.
- Commodities and FX: sharp drops in gold and crude futures coincided with a firmer dollar and RUB moves.
Data in this report reflect the session close in Moscow and related futures and FX quotes available at the time of market close.