Russian Stocks Flat as MOEX Index Holds Steady; MTS, Magnit Gain Amid Gold Dip

Russian stocks closed flat on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index ending the session unchanged at 0.00%. Market activity was mixed, with key gainers and losers reflecting cautious investor sentiment.

Leading the gains were Mobil’nye Telesistemy PJSC (MCX:MTSS), which rose 0.77% to 236.30, Magnit PJSC (MCX:MGNT), up 0.56% to 3,620.00, and Surgutneftegas PJSC Pref (MCX:SNGS_p), which added 0.46% to close at 53.48. On the downside, PhosAgro PJSC (MCX:PHOR) declined 0.55% to 6,360.00, while Magnitogorskiy Metallurgicheskiy Kombinat PAO (MCX:MAGN) slipped 0.35% to 33.03, and Severstal PJSC (MCX:CHMF) dropped 0.29% to 1,030.00.

Overall, advancing stocks outpaced decliners on the Moscow Exchange by a margin of 79 to 30, with 4 remaining unchanged. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), a gauge of market uncertainty, also remained flat at 33.01.

In commodities, gold futures for August delivery fell 1.36% to $3,302.30 per troy ounce, reflecting a broader pullback in safe-haven assets. In contrast, crude oil prices climbed, with WTI crude for August rising 0.43% to $65.52 per barrel and Brent crude for September up 0.16% to $66.80 per barrel.

In forex markets, the Russian ruble strengthened, as USD/RUB slipped 0.32% to 78.50 and EUR/RUB edged down 0.15% to 92.00. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index Futures gained 0.28% to 97.03, signaling sustained dollar strength in global markets.

This mixed session reflects cautious optimism amid global market fluctuations and commodity volatility.