JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Russia’s stock market ended flat on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index remaining unchanged at 0.00%, marking a new six-month low. Investor sentiment stayed cautious amid weak performance in major sectors and persistent market volatility.
Among the top performers, NOVATEK PJSC (MCX:NVTK) closed steady at 1,084.00, while T Tekhnologii MKPAO (MCX:T) and GDR ROS AGRO PLC ORD SHS (MCX:AGRODR) also finished unchanged at 2,979.20 and 1,083.80, respectively. Despite stability among select blue-chip stocks, broader market weakness continued to weigh on investor confidence.
On the downside, Moskovskaya Birzha PJSC (MCX:MOEX) led losses with a 2.17% decline to 155.87, hitting a new 52-week low. Federal Hydro Generating Company RusHydro PJSC (MCX:HYDR) dropped 2.15% to 0.38 — its lowest level in five years. Meanwhile, VK Company Ltd (MCX:VKCO) slipped 1.92% to 260.80, extending recent declines in the technology sector.
Market breadth reflected bearish sentiment, with 186 stocks falling compared to only 39 gaining, while 7 remained unchanged on the Moscow Exchange. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), which tracks implied volatility on MOEX options, remained stable at 34.32, signaling ongoing market uncertainty.
In commodities, Gold Futures (December delivery) rose 1.05% to $3,908.90 per troy ounce, supported by safe-haven demand. Crude oil (November) climbed 0.66% to $60.88 a barrel, and Brent oil (December) increased 0.66% to $64.53.
In currency trading, the USD/RUB pair slipped 0.36% to 82.25, while EUR/RUB edged down 0.14% to 96.58. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures weakened slightly by 0.13% to 97.42, reflecting a modest retreat in dollar strength.
