China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Singapore GDP Grows 5.7% in Q2 2026 as AI-Driven Manufacturing Boosts Economy 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Dollar Eases as Middle East Conflict, Fed Outlook and Japan Pension Policy Drive FX Markets 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Russian stocks closed mixed on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index finishing flat but reaching a new three-month high. Despite ending the session unchanged at 0.00%, investor sentiment remained supported by strong performances in major energy shares on the Moscow Stock Exchange (MOEX).
Among the top gainers on the MOEX Russia Index were TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin (MCX:TATN), which climbed 3.04% to 559.50 rubles. LUKOIL PJSC (MCX:LKOH) followed closely, advancing 2.99% to close at 5,376.50 rubles. Preferred shares of TATNEFT (MCX:TATN_p) also performed well, rising 2.98% to 535.00 rubles. Strength in oil-related stocks helped offset broader market weakness and supported the benchmark index’s move to a multi-month high.
However, market breadth indicated underlying pressure, as declining stocks significantly outnumbered advancers by 185 to 51, while 11 shares ended unchanged. Federal Hydro Generating Company RusHydro PJSC (MCX:HYDR) led the losers, falling 1.80% to 0.44 rubles. Retail giant Magnit PJSC (MCX:MGNT) dropped 1.65% to 3,304.00 rubles, and Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MCX:MAGN) slipped 1.30% to 31.10 rubles.
Volatility remained subdued, with the Russian Volatility Index (RVI) holding steady at 23.92, marking a one-month low and signaling relatively stable investor expectations.
In commodities trading, gold futures for April delivery surged 1.03% to $5,267.20 per troy ounce. Crude oil prices also strengthened, with April contracts rising 2.78% to $67.02 per barrel, while May Brent crude gained 2.87% to $72.87 per barrel.
Currency markets saw the Russian ruble weaken slightly, as USD/RUB increased 0.55% to 77.30 and EUR/RUB rose 0.69% to 91.32. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index futures edged down 0.17% to 97.57, reflecting modest pressure on the greenback.
Overall, gains in energy stocks and firm commodity prices helped Russia’s benchmark index maintain its upward momentum, even as broader market participation remained uneven.
