Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Russian equities closed flat on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index ending unchanged at 0.00%. Market activity saw mixed performances among major stocks, as gains in financials and metals offset minor losses elsewhere.
Bank VTB PJSC (MCX:VTBR) emerged as the top performer, climbing 2.17% to 82.76. Moskovskaya Birzha PJSC (MCX:MOEX) followed with a 1.84% gain to 177.20, while MMC Norilsk Nickel PJSC (MCX:GMKN) advanced 1.68% to close at 117.30, buoyed by investor sentiment in the mining sector.
Conversely, diamond miner AK ALROSA PJSC (MCX:ALRS) slipped 0.19% to 46.46. Fertilizer giant PhosAgro PJSC (MCX:PHOR) declined 0.16% to 6,247.00, and Moskovskiy Kreditnyi Bank (MCX:CBOM) edged down 0.14% to 7.05.
Overall, advancing stocks outnumbered decliners on the Moscow Exchange, with 124 stocks gaining, 23 losing, and 2 closing flat. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), tracking implied market volatility via MOEX options, remained unchanged at 30.06.
In commodities, gold futures for August rose 0.39% to $3,358.30 per troy ounce, driven by ongoing global uncertainty. Crude oil prices slipped, with August WTI down 0.30% to $67.34 per barrel, and September Brent declining 0.35% to $69.28, reflecting cautious sentiment in energy markets.
Currency markets showed the ruble weakening, with USD/RUB up 0.85% to 78.71 and EUR/RUB gaining 1.11% to 91.51. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index futures dropped 0.25% to 98.20, signaling mild pressure on the greenback amid broader market consolidation.
