Trump Threatens Escalation Against Iran, Warns of Infrastructure Strikes 
Asian Currencies Weaken as Dollar Rebounds Amid Middle East Escalation 
South Korea Manufacturing PMI Hits 4-Year High in March 2025 Driven by Semiconductor Demand 
China's Services Sector Maintains Growth Streak Despite March Slowdown 
Japan's Business Confidence Rises Despite Iran War Uncertainty, BOJ Rate Hike Expected 
Oil Prices Climb as Middle East Conflict Keeps Supply Risks Elevated 
Australia's Trade Surplus Surges in February on Gold Export Boom 
Bank of Japan Eyes Further Rate Hikes Amid Middle East Tensions and Inflation Pressures 
U.S. Stock Futures Steady Amid Iran Ceasefire Talks and Trump Address 
Oil Prices Surge Over $5 as Trump Vows to Continue Iran Strikes 
Gold Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Spark Market Optimism 
Japan's Services Sector Growth Slows in March Amid Rising Middle East Tensions 
South Korea's Inflation Rises Modestly in March Amid Oil Price Pressures 
Gulf War Ceasefire Hopes Weigh on Dollar Ahead of Trump Address 
Oil Prices Slide as Iran Tensions Ease and U.S. Crude Stockpiles Swell 
Asian Stocks Surge on Trump's Iran War Comments and Dip-Buying 
Trump's Iran War Speech Sparks Market Anxiety Over Extended Conflict 
Russian stocks finished Saturday’s trading session slightly lower overall, with the benchmark MOEX Russia Index closing unchanged at 0.00% in Moscow. Market sentiment remained cautious as investors weighed mixed performances across key sectors alongside movements in commodities and foreign exchange markets. Despite limited index movement, individual stocks posted notable gains and losses, reflecting selective investor interest rather than broad-based momentum.
Among the best-performing stocks on the MOEX Russia Index was Federal Hydro Generating Company RusHydro PJSC (MCX: HYDR), which advanced 1.28% to close at 0.43. OZON (MCX: OZON) also showed strength, rising 0.81% to finish at 4,689.50, while ROSSETI PJSC (MCX: FEES) ended the session unchanged at 0.08, effectively flat but still counted among the day’s relatively stronger names. These gains highlighted ongoing interest in utilities and select technology-linked stocks within the Russian equity market.
On the downside, NOVATEK PJSC (MCX: NVTK) was the weakest performer, slipping 0.22% to close at 1,175.40. Novolipetsk Steel (MCX: NLMK) declined 0.21% to 113.24, while Moskovskaya Birzha PJSC (MCX: MOEX) edged lower by 0.16% to 181.68. These modest declines reflected profit-taking and subdued demand in energy, steel, and financial services shares.
Market breadth was positive, with advancing stocks outnumbering decliners by 182 to 42, while 18 stocks finished unchanged. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), a key measure of implied volatility for MOEX options, remained steady at 26.52, signaling stable near-term risk expectations.
In commodities trading, gold futures for April delivery fell sharply by 11.39% to $4,763.10 per troy ounce. Oil prices also moved lower, with March crude oil down 0.32% at $65.21 per barrel and April Brent crude declining 0.39% to $69.32. In currency markets, USD/RUB edged up 0.05% to 76.00, while EUR/RUB dropped 0.95% to 90.06. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index Futures climbed 0.75% to 96.86, adding pressure to emerging market currencies.
