Stock Markets March 1, 2026

Moscow market ends mixed as MOEX Russia Index holds at three-month high

Energy and materials names led gains while select consumer and utility stocks slipped; volatility eased to a one-month low

By Jordan Park MGNT
Moscow market ends mixed as MOEX Russia Index holds at three-month high
MGNT

Russian equities closed lower overall on Sunday trade in Moscow, even as the MOEX Russia Index finished unchanged at a new 3-months high. Energy and mining majors posted the session's largest gains, while an airline, a retailer and a hydroelectric utility were among the worst performers. Market breadth favored decliners and implied volatility on the MOEX options fell to a one-month low. Oil and gold prices moved higher and the ruble weakened against the dollar and euro.

Key Points

  • MOEX Russia Index closed unchanged at 0.00% and reached a new 3-months high.
  • Energy and mining giants such as TATNEFT (MCX:TATN), Polyus (MCX:PLZL) and LUKOIL (MCX:LKOH) were among the top gainers.
  • Airline, retail and hydroelectric utility names including Aeroflot (MCX:AFLT), Magnit (MCX:MGNT) and RusHydro (MCX:HYDR) were among the worst performers; falling issues outnumbered advancing ones by 183 to 61.

Stocks in Russia finished the session lower overall on Sunday, despite the MOEX Russia Index ending the trading day unchanged at 0.00% and recording a new 3-months high. A note in the original market report indicated that certain sectors led the move, but those sectors were not specified in the source text.


Top performers

  • TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin (MCX:TATN) led advancers on the MOEX Russia Index, rising 3.04% or 16.50 points to close at 559.50.
  • Polyus PJSC (MCX:PLZL) added 3.03% or 75.80 points, finishing at 2,581.20.
  • LUKOIL PJSC (MCX:LKOH) gained 2.99% or 156.00 points to end the day at 5,376.50.

Lagging names

  • Aeroflot PJSC (MCX:AFLT) was the session's biggest decliner among the listed names, down 1.59% or 0.89 points to 54.98 at the close.
  • Magnit PJSC (MCX:MGNT) decreased 1.49% or 50.00 points to 3,309.50.
  • Federal Hydro Generating Company RusHydro PJSC (MCX:HYDR) slipped 1.44% or 0.01 points to 0.44.

On market breadth, falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Moscow Stock Exchange by 183 to 61, while 4 issues finished unchanged.


Volatility and commodities

The Russian Volatility Index - RVI, which measures implied volatility of options on the MOEX Russia Index, was unchanged at 0.00% and stood at 23.92, marking a new 1-month low.

Commodities moved higher during the session. Gold Futures for April delivery increased 1.03% or 53.70 to $5,247.90 a troy ounce. In energy markets, Crude oil for April delivery rose 2.78% or 1.81 to $67.02 a barrel, while the May Brent contract gained 2.45% or 1.73 to trade at $72.48 a barrel.


Currencies and broader dollar measures

The ruble weakened against major currencies: USD/RUB rose 0.55% to 77.30, and EUR/RUB increased 0.69% to 91.32. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.17% at 97.57.


The market update reflects the session's mixed dynamics: selective strength among large energy and mining names contrasted with pressure on certain consumer and utility stocks, while implied volatility eased and commodity prices advanced.

Risks

  • Market breadth showed more decliners than advancers (183 vs. 61), indicating potential downside pressure for equity sectors exhibiting weakness - notably consumer and utility stocks.
  • Despite a one-month low in implied volatility (RVI at 23.92), commodity price swings in oil and gold could reintroduce volatility, affecting energy and mining equities tied to commodity movements.
  • Currency moves - a weaker ruble (USD/RUB at 77.30 and EUR/RUB at 91.32) - may influence imported inputs and foreign-currency exposures across corporate balance sheets, particularly for retailers and utilities.

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