Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low; Gold Falls and Oil Mixed

Russian stocks closed flat on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index ending unchanged at 0.00% and touching a fresh 52-week low during trading. The lack of movement across the market reflected cautious investor sentiment, while several key Russian equities remained under pressure near multi-year lows.

Among the stocks listed on the MOEX Russia Index, AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX: AFKS) finished unchanged at 13.54. Aeroflot PJSC (MCX: AFLT) also ended the session flat at 42.50, while ROSSETI PJSC (MCX: FEES) closed unchanged at 0.05. Despite the stable closing prices, Aeroflot shares remained at 52-week lows, highlighting continued weakness in the airline sector. ROSSETI shares also traded near five-year lows, underscoring ongoing challenges for the utility company.

Market breadth remained neutral, with neither advancing nor declining stocks outnumbering one another on the Moscow Stock Exchange. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), which tracks implied volatility in MOEX Russia Index options, was unchanged at 29.61, reaching its highest level in three months and signaling elevated market uncertainty.

In the commodities market, gold prices moved lower as Gold Futures for August delivery dropped 1.72%, or $73.00, to settle at $4,172.90 per troy ounce. Crude oil prices were mixed, with July WTI crude slipping 0.12% to $76.51 per barrel, while August Brent crude gained 0.90% to trade at $80.57 per barrel.

Currency markets showed modest gains for the Russian ruble. The USD/RUB exchange rate declined 0.44% to 73.00, while EUR/RUB fell 0.35% to 83.72. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index (DXY) remained unchanged at 100.62, reflecting stable demand for the greenback against a basket of major global currencies.

Overall, Russian equities ended the session largely unchanged, but record lows in key stocks and rising volatility suggest investors remain cautious amid ongoing market uncertainty.