European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
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 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
Russian stocks closed slightly lower on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index remaining flat at 0.00%, hitting a new six-month low amid weak market sentiment.
Despite the stagnant index, some individual stocks showed resilience. Aluminum giant OK Rusal MKPAO (MCX:RUAL) rose 1.15% to 28.05, while steelmaker Magnitogorskiy Metallurgicheskiy Kombinat (MCX:MAGN) added 1.05%, closing at 31.68. Fertilizer producer PhosAgro PJSC (MCX:PHOR) also gained 1.00%, ending at 5,881.00.
On the downside, Moskovskiy Kreditnyi Bank (MCX:CBOM) slipped 0.71% to 6.55. Mobile operator Mobil’nye Telesistemy PJSC (MCX:MTSS) declined 0.46% to 192.75, and gold miner Polyus PJSC (MCX:PLZL) fell 0.32% to 1,784.20.
Market breadth remained positive with 87 advancing stocks versus 49 decliners, while 8 closed unchanged. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), which tracks expected volatility on MOEX options, remained steady at 31.83.
Commodity markets provided a mixed backdrop. Gold futures for August delivery climbed 1.15% to $3,364.00 per troy ounce, reflecting stronger safe-haven demand. Crude oil futures for August surged 2.82% to $68.45 per barrel, while Brent crude for September delivery advanced 2.51% to $70.36, signaling increased confidence in energy markets.
In currency trading, the Russian ruble weakened against major peers. The USD/RUB pair rose 0.53% to 77.96, while EUR/RUB climbed 0.44% to 91.14. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index Futures edged higher by 0.22%, settling at 97.53.
While the MOEX Russia Index struggled, selective gains in commodities and individual equities highlighted mixed investor sentiment amid broader market uncertainty.
