Russian stock markets ended the trading day in negative territory on Friday, with sector-level weakness in Mining, Oil & Gas and Power pushing the benchmark down.
At the close in Moscow, the MOEX Russia Index fell 0.71%, marking a fresh six-month low for the gauge.
Among individual issues, PhosAgro PJSC (MCX:PHOR) was the strongest performer on the MOEX Russia Index, finishing up 0.68% - a gain of 42.00 points - at 6,240.00. Moskovskiy Kreditnyi Bank PAO (MCX:CBOM) also closed in positive territory, rising 0.48% or 0.04 points to 7.34. VK Company Ltd (MCX:VKCO) recorded a modest advance of 0.41% or 0.95 points to end the session at 234.95.
Stocks on the downside included OZON (MCX:OZON), which dropped 2.82% or 109.50 points to close at 3,778.50. ROSSETI PJSC (MCX:FEES) remained at 0.06, described in reports as unchanged but noted as trading at a five-year low. Aeroflot PJSC (MCX:AFLT) retreated 2.78% or 1.29 points to finish at 45.06, a level reported as a 52-week low.
Broader market breadth was negative: decliners outnumbered advancers by 186 to 52 on the Moscow Stock Exchange, while 12 names ended unchanged.
Volatility indicators moved lower. The Russian Volatility Index - RVI, which reflects the implied volatility of MOEX Russia Index options, decreased 3.99% to 24.56 by the close.
Commodity markets tracked softer on the session. Gold futures for August delivery were reported down 3.35% - a move of 151.10 - to $4,353.90 a troy ounce. In oil markets, U.S. crude for July delivery fell 3.00% or $2.79 to $90.25 a barrel, while the August Brent contract slipped 2.25% or $2.14 to trade at $92.89 a barrel.
On the currency front, USD/RUB was higher by 0.70% at 73.91, while EUR/RUB was lower by 0.34% at 84.92. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures quoted in the report was up 0.67% at 100.05.
Market snapshot:
- MOEX Russia Index: -0.71% (new six-month low)
- Top gainers: PHOR +0.68%, CBOM +0.48%, VKCO +0.41%
- Top decliners: OZON -2.82%, FEES at 0.06 (reported at five-year low), AFLT -2.78% (52-week low)
- RVI: -3.99% to 24.56
- Gold (Aug): -3.35% to $4,353.90 per troy ounce
- U.S. Crude (Jul): -3.00% to $90.25 per barrel; Brent (Aug): -2.25% to $92.89 per barrel
- USD/RUB: 73.91; EUR/RUB: 84.92
The session painted a picture of losses concentrated in energy-related and utility names, with several large-cap issues contributing to the negative close. Volatility eased modestly even as commodity prices moved lower on the day.