Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Silver Prices Surge to New Record Above $60 as Supply Concerns and Fed Expectations Boost Demand 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Global Forex Markets Brace for Fed Decision as Yen Extends Weakness 
Russian stocks closed lower on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index dropping 2.80%, weighed down by sharp declines in the Mining, Oil & Gas, and Telecom sectors.
Among the top gainers, PIK SHb PJSC (MCX:PIKK) rose 1.43% to 448.30, while Polyus PJSC (MCX:PLZL) added 1.03% to 1,719.40. ROSSETI PJSC (MCX:FEES) was flat but notched a slight gain of 0.94%, closing at 0.07.
On the downside, ADS Ozon Holdings PLC (MCX:OZONDR) plunged 5.59% to 3,540.00, making it the worst performer of the session. TATNEFT (MCX:TATN) slipped 0.03% to 698.70, and Bank VTB PJSC (MCX:VTBR) edged down 0.01% to 96.59.
Despite the losses, advancing stocks outnumbered decliners by a margin of 86 to 13 on the Moscow Stock Exchange. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), a gauge of market uncertainty based on MOEX options, rose 0.72% to 47.52.
In commodities, June Gold Futures climbed 0.66% to $3,257.00 per troy ounce, signaling continued demand for safe-haven assets. However, oil prices declined, with June Crude Oil Futures falling 1.60% to $58.29 per barrel, and July Brent Crude dropping 1.35% to $61.29.
On the currency front, the ruble weakened against major peers. USD/RUB rose 0.91% to 82.75, and EUR/RUB gained 0.94% to 93.47. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index Futures dipped 0.21% to 99.84, reflecting modest greenback softness.
This decline in Russia’s benchmark index reflects broader investor caution amid commodity price shifts and currency volatility.
