MOEX Russia Index Closes Flat as Gold Surges and Ruble Strengthens

Russian stocks ended Saturday’s session little changed, with the MOEX Russia Index closing flat at 0.00% on the Moscow Exchange. Market activity remained subdued, reflecting a balanced performance across major sectors as investors monitored global commodity prices and currency movements.

Among the notable stocks on the MOEX Russia Index, AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX: AFKS) finished unchanged at 13.80. Aeroflot PJSC (MCX: AFLT) also closed flat at 57.08, while ROSSETI PJSC (MCX: FEES) held steady at 0.08 in late trading. Interestingly, these same companies were listed among both the session’s best and worst performers due to the absence of significant price movement, highlighting the market’s stagnant tone. Overall, advancing and declining stocks were evenly matched on the Moscow Stock Exchange, with no clear лидership emerging by the close.

The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), which tracks implied volatility on MOEX Russia Index options, remained unchanged at 24.92. The steady RVI reading suggests that investor sentiment and risk expectations were largely stable despite movements in global markets.

In commodities trading, gold prices posted strong gains. Gold futures for April delivery jumped 1.98%, rising $97.90 to reach $5,046.30 per troy ounce. The sharp increase in gold prices points to continued demand for safe-haven assets. Meanwhile, crude oil prices recorded modest gains. March crude oil futures edged up 0.08% to $62.89 per barrel, while April Brent crude rose 0.34% to trade at $67.75 per barrel.

Currency markets saw the Russian ruble strengthen against major peers. USD/RUB declined 0.74% to 76.65, and EUR/RUB fell 0.76% to 90.97. The US Dollar Index Futures slipped slightly by 0.02% to 96.82, reflecting limited movement in the broader dollar market.

Overall, the flat close of the MOEX Russia Index, combined with rising gold prices and a firmer ruble, signals a cautious but stable trading environment in Russia’s financial markets.