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South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
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Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
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U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
Russian equities closed mixed on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index ending the session flat at 0.00%, reflecting a cautious mood among investors. Market movements were largely muted as gains in select tech and industrial stocks were offset by declines in construction and energy shares.
Leading the session were VK Company Ltd (MCX: VKCO), which climbed 1.03% to close at 265.80, supported by steady demand in the digital sector. AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX: AFKS) added 0.77% to 12.50, while TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin Pref (MCX: TATN_p) rose 0.74% to 556.00, aided by moderate recovery in oil market sentiment.
However, losses in the construction and energy sectors weighed on the broader market. PIK SHb PJSC (MCX: PIKK) dropped 1.16% to 416.20, marking one of the session’s weakest performances. Surgutneftegas PJSC (MCX: SNGS) slipped 0.72% to 20.06, hitting a 52-week low, while OK Rusal MKPAO (MCX: RUAL) declined 0.53% to 29.99 amid subdued aluminum prices. Market breadth was evenly split, with 105 stocks declining, 105 advancing, and 16 unchanged on the Moscow Exchange.
In commodities, Gold Futures for December delivery rose 0.70% to $4,000.40 per troy ounce, signaling a flight to safety amid global uncertainty. Meanwhile, Crude Oil (November delivery) fell sharply by 4.24% to $58.90 per barrel, and Brent Oil (December contract) dropped 3.82% to $62.73.
Currency markets also reflected moderate volatility. The USD/RUB pair gained 0.55% to 81.63, and EUR/RUB advanced 1.04% to 94.85, while the U.S. Dollar Index Futures eased 0.55% to 98.73. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI) remained stable at 31.36, indicating steady investor sentiment despite global market fluctuations.
