Russian stocks ended the trading day lower overall on Sunday, although the MOEX Russia Index itself was unchanged at 0.00% and recorded a fresh three-month high at the close in Moscow.
Among individual movers, MMC NORILSK NICKEL PJSC (MCX:GMKN) was the session's top performer on the MOEX Russia Index, rising 2.23% or 3.70 points to close at 169.00. Polyus PJSC (MCX:PLZL) added 1.31% or 35.60 points, finishing the day at 2,744.60. ROSSETI PJSC (MCX:FEES) was reported as unchanged 0.65% or 0.00 points to 0.07 in late trade.
The laggards included PIK SHb PJSC (MCX:PIKK), which fell 0.41% or 1.90 points to end at 465.40. Gazprom PJSC (MCX:GAZP) declined 0.31% or 0.40 points to close at 127.20, while Magnitogorskiy Metallurgicheskiy Kombinat PAO (MCX:MAGN) was down 0.25% or 0.07 points to 28.43.
Market breadth on the Moscow Stock Exchange favored advancers: rising issues outnumbered decliners by 168 to 65, and 16 stocks finished unchanged.
Notably, shares of MMC NORILSK NICKEL PJSC (MCX:GMKN) advanced to 52-week highs during the session, with the stock climbing 2.23% or 3.70 to 169.00.
Volatility as measured by the Russian Volatility Index - RVI was flat, registering no change at 0.00% to 25.15.
Commodities and currency markets showed stronger movement. Gold Futures for April delivery rose 1.35% or 66.30 to $5,017.00 a troy ounce. In oil markets, crude for March delivery gained 2.88% or 1.71 to reach $61.07 a barrel, while the April Brent contract increased 2.84% or 1.82 to trade at $65.07 a barrel.
On foreign exchange crosses, USD/RUB was down 0.66% to 75.50 and EUR/RUB fell 0.05% to 89.30. The US Dollar Index Futures was lower by 0.78% at 97.40.
Taken together, the session combined modest equity weakness with stronger commodity prices and a firmer ruble. The most pronounced gains were concentrated among large mining and resource-related stocks, while several major industrial and consumer-oriented names posted small declines.
The trading session contained limited movement in implied volatility and a clear split between commodity strength and selective equity weakness.