Russia's benchmark gauge closed the session in Moscow unchanged, with the MOEX Russia Index finishing the day at a net change of 0.00%. The market recorded more decliners than advancers and saw only a small group of stocks deliver notable intraday moves.
Leading the advance, VK Company Ltd (MCX:VKCO) rose 0.44% - gaining 1.15 points to finish at 263.25. Steelmaker Severstal PJSC (MCX:CHMF) added 0.30%, or 2.40 points, to close at 802.60, while telecommunications firm Rostelekom PJSC (MCX:RTKM) edged up 0.29%, or 0.16 points, to end the session at 56.20.
At the other end of the board, Magnitogorskiy Metallurgicheskiy Kombinat PAO (MCX:MAGN) was the weakest among the movers, sliding 0.76% - down 0.20 points to 25.97 at the close. Diamond producer AK ALROSA PJSC (MCX:ALRS) dropped 0.57%, or 0.17 points, to finish at 29.79, while MMC NORILSK NICKEL PJSC (MCX:GMKN) lost 0.57%, or 0.80 points, to close at 137.00.
On market breadth, falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Moscow Stock Exchange by 113 to 105, and 27 issues finished unchanged.
AK ALROSA PJSC (MCX:ALRS) reached a notable low, slipping to a five-year trough as it declined 0.57% or 0.17 to 29.79.
Volatility in Moscow options was stable: the Russian Volatility Index - RVI, which measures implied volatility of MOEX Russia Index options, was unchanged at 0.00%, sitting at 22.31.
Commodities and currency moves provided additional context for the session. Gold futures for June delivery were higher by 0.36%, or 16.90, settling at $4,740.90 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for June delivery fell 1.51%, or 1.45, to $94.40 a barrel, while the July Brent oil contract rose 0.25%, or 0.26, to trade at $99.13 a barrel.
On the currency front, USD/RUB declined 0.82% to 75.25, and EUR/RUB fell 0.50% to 88.21. The US Dollar Index Futures eased 0.24% to 98.36.
Key points
- MOEX Russia Index closed unchanged at a net change of 0.00% - market finished flat overall.
- Top performers included VKCO, CHMF and RTKM; notable decliners included MAGN, ALRS and GMKN.
- Commodities and FX showed mixed moves - gold rose, June crude fell, Brent in July traded higher, and the ruble strengthened against the dollar and euro.
Risks and uncertainties
- Market breadth was negative with more decliners than advancers, indicating uneven participation across sectors - particularly affecting mining and metals names.
- AK ALROSA's slide to a five-year low highlights downside risk in the diamond and mining sector.
- Movements in commodities and FX - including a fall in June crude and changes in currency pairs - introduce further uncertainty for resource-heavy companies and exporters.
These observations reflect price moves and market-state data recorded at the close in Moscow; they do not imply future performance.