Russian Stocks Hold Steady as MOEX Index Ends Unchanged; Ruble Strengthens Against Dollar and Euro

Russia’s stock market closed flat on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index ending the session unchanged at 0.00%. Despite subdued market activity, investors monitored movements in key sectors as well as shifts in currency and commodity prices.

Among the leading performers on the MOEX Russia Index, AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX:AFKS) remained unchanged at 12.84 rubles per share. Aeroflot PJSC (MCX:AFLT) also held steady at 51.52 rubles, while ROSSETI PJSC (MCX:FEES) closed at 0.06 rubles without any movement. Interestingly, these same companies also ranked among the session’s weakest performers due to a complete lack of price change, reflecting minimal market volatility. Market breadth data revealed that declining and advancing stocks were evenly matched, as none registered gains or losses during the trading session.

The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), which gauges implied volatility on MOEX options, remained flat at 39.29, signaling investor caution and a stable market sentiment.

In commodities, gold futures for December delivery slipped by 0.19%, losing $7.80 to settle at $4,137.80 per troy ounce. Crude oil prices edged lower, with U.S. crude for December down 0.47% to $61.50 per barrel, while Brent crude for the same month dipped 0.08% to $65.94.

Currency markets saw the ruble strengthen against major counterparts. The USD/RUB fell 1.86% to 79.75, and the EUR/RUB declined 1.80% to 92.72. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index Futures inched up 0.02% to 98.75, indicating a marginal recovery for the greenback.

Overall, the Russian market remained largely inactive, reflecting investor restraint amid global economic uncertainties and fluctuating energy prices.