Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
Russian stocks closed flat on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index ending the session unchanged at 0.00%. Energy shares led gains, while a few stocks remained stagnant or dipped slightly.
Rosneft PJSC (MCX:ROSN) emerged as the session's top performer, climbing 2.97% to 457.60 RUB. Surgutneftegas PJSC (MCX:SNGS) followed, gaining 2.14% to close at 23.13 RUB. TATNEFT (MCX:TATN) also advanced, rising 1.82% to 666.60 RUB. On the downside, PIK SHb PJSC (MCX:PIKK) slipped 0.39% to 539.10 RUB. ADS Ozon Holdings (MCX:OZONDR) and ROS AGRO PLC (MCX:AGRODR) both remained unchanged at 3,656.00 RUB and 1,083.80 RUB, respectively. Notably, ROS AGRO hit a 52-week low.
Market breadth remained positive, with 87 stocks rising, 22 falling, and 5 unchanged. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), which tracks expected market volatility, was steady at 34.08, its lowest level in six months.
Commodities saw notable movement. Gold futures for August delivery surged 1.48%, reaching $3,452.80 per troy ounce. Crude oil prices rallied, with July WTI crude jumping 7.26% to $72.98 per barrel, while August Brent crude gained 7.02% to $74.23 per barrel, signaling strong momentum in the energy sector.
On the currency front, the Russian ruble strengthened slightly. The USD/RUB fell 0.36% to 79.71, and the EUR/RUB dropped 0.64% to 92.08. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index Futures rose 0.29% to 98.18, reflecting global demand for the greenback.
Overall, while the MOEX Index held steady, energy stocks and commodity prices highlighted market optimism amid geopolitical and economic uncertainties.
