Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Russian stocks closed flat on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index ending unchanged at 0.00%. Trading was mixed, but energy and airline stocks showed moderate strength.
Federal Hydro Generating Company RusHydro PJSC (MCX:HYDR) led gains, climbing 1.68% to close at 0.47. Aluminum giant OK Rusal MKPAO (MCX:RUAL) rose 1.19% to 31.01, while Aeroflot PJSC (MCX:AFLT) added 0.99% to finish at 65.19.
On the downside, retailer Magnit PJSC (MCX:MGNT) dipped 0.09% to 3,894.00. ADS Ozon Holdings PLC (MCX:OZONDR) and GDR ROS AGRO PLC (MCX:AGRODR) remained unchanged at 3,855.00 and 1,083.80 respectively. Notably, ROS AGRO held steady near its 52-week low.
Market breadth was overwhelmingly positive, with 98 stocks advancing, 8 declining, and 3 remaining unchanged on the Moscow Exchange. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), which reflects investor sentiment via options on the MOEX Russia Index, remained steady at 42.86.
In commodities, August Gold Futures slipped 0.84% to $3,346.60 per troy ounce, while July Crude Oil surged 1.91% to $64.58 a barrel. Brent Oil for August delivery gained 1.73%, trading at $66.47 a barrel, reflecting renewed demand optimism.
Currency markets saw the ruble weaken, with USD/RUB rising 2.07% to 78.85 and EUR/RUB up 1.63% to 89.85. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index advanced 0.45% to 99.14, reinforcing dollar strength across global forex markets.
The stable Russian equities performance, combined with gains in oil and a weaker ruble, paints a cautiously optimistic picture for commodity-linked stocks in the region.
