Russian Shares Close Lower as MOEX Russia Index Holds Steady

Russian stocks finished lower after Saturday’s close, with sector moves leading shares.

At the Moscow close, the MOEX Russia Index was unchanged at 0.00%.

The strongest performers on the MOEX Russia Index were Rostelekom PJSC (MCX:RTKM), which gained 0.41%, or 0.16 points, to close at 39.54. Federal Hydro Generating Company RusHydro PJSC (MCX:HYDR) was unchanged, with a 0.38% reading or 0.00 points, to end at 0.37, while Mobil’nye Telesistemy PJSC (MCX:MTSS) added 0.34%, or 0.60 points, to reach 174.85 in late trading.

The session’s weakest performers were NOVATEK PJSC (MCX:NVTK), down 0.98%, or 10.40 points, to 1,046.30 at the close. Severstal PJSC (MCX:CHMF) fell 0.92%, or 5.80 points, to 623.60, and AK ALROSA PJSC (MCX:ALRS) declined 0.87%, or 0.17 points, to 19.30.

Declining stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Moscow Stock Exchange by 142 to 86, with 18 issues ending unchanged.

The Russian Volatility Index – RVI, which tracks implied volatility for MOEX Russia Index options, was unchanged, posting a 0.00% move, at 33.97.

Gold futures for December delivery rose 0.37%, or $16.20, to $4,415.90 per troy ounce. In other commodities, October crude oil fell 2.34%, or $2.38, to $99.53 a barrel, while the November Brent contract dropped 1.56%, or $1.63, to $103.19 a barrel.

USD/RUB slipped 0.11% to 84.42, while EUR/RUB fell 0.27% to 96.72.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.05% at 99.94.