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New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
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Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
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Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Russian stocks closed slightly lower on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index remaining flat at 0.00%, hitting a new six-month low amid weak market sentiment.
Despite the stagnant index, some individual stocks showed resilience. Aluminum giant OK Rusal MKPAO (MCX:RUAL) rose 1.15% to 28.05, while steelmaker Magnitogorskiy Metallurgicheskiy Kombinat (MCX:MAGN) added 1.05%, closing at 31.68. Fertilizer producer PhosAgro PJSC (MCX:PHOR) also gained 1.00%, ending at 5,881.00.
On the downside, Moskovskiy Kreditnyi Bank (MCX:CBOM) slipped 0.71% to 6.55. Mobile operator Mobil’nye Telesistemy PJSC (MCX:MTSS) declined 0.46% to 192.75, and gold miner Polyus PJSC (MCX:PLZL) fell 0.32% to 1,784.20.
Market breadth remained positive with 87 advancing stocks versus 49 decliners, while 8 closed unchanged. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), which tracks expected volatility on MOEX options, remained steady at 31.83.
Commodity markets provided a mixed backdrop. Gold futures for August delivery climbed 1.15% to $3,364.00 per troy ounce, reflecting stronger safe-haven demand. Crude oil futures for August surged 2.82% to $68.45 per barrel, while Brent crude for September delivery advanced 2.51% to $70.36, signaling increased confidence in energy markets.
In currency trading, the Russian ruble weakened against major peers. The USD/RUB pair rose 0.53% to 77.96, while EUR/RUB climbed 0.44% to 91.14. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index Futures edged higher by 0.22%, settling at 97.53.
While the MOEX Russia Index struggled, selective gains in commodities and individual equities highlighted mixed investor sentiment amid broader market uncertainty.
