Russian equities ended Thursday's session in positive territory, with the MOEX Russia Index adding 0.24% at the close in Moscow. Sector-level strength in Oil & Gas, Manufacturing and Telecoms underpinned the modest advance.
Top movers
The leading stocks on the MOEX Russia Index included LUKOIL PJSC (MCX:LKOH), which gained 2.58% - a rise of 117.00 points - to finish at 4,660.00. TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin (MCX:TATN) rose 2.29%, adding 11.10 points to close at 495.30. Rosneft PJSC (MCX:ROSN) also posted a positive result, up 1.63% or 5.60 points to end the day at 349.00.
Lagging names
On the downside, AK ALROSA PJSC (MCX:ALRS) fell 7.13%, a decline of 1.49 points, to trade at 19.42 at the close. Polyus PJSC (MCX:PLZL) declined 5.90% or 76.00 points to end at 1,212.00. AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX:AFKS) dropped 5.60%, down 0.50 points to 8.45.
Market breadth and volatility
Decliners outnumbered advancers on the Moscow Stock Exchange, with 192 falling issues versus 59 advancing ones and 2 left unchanged. The Russian Volatility Index - RVI, which reflects implied volatility in MOEX Russia Index options, eased 1.38% to 49.18 by the close.
Commodities and FX moves
Commodities trading showed mixed moves. Gold Futures for August delivery were reported down 2.40% or 99.50 to $4,052.40 a troy ounce. In oil markets, Crude oil for September delivery rose 3.78% or 3.16 to reach $86.80 a barrel, while the September Brent oil contract increased 0.18% or 0.18 to trade at $100.72 a barrel.
On the currency front, USD/RUB was unchanged at 0.00% to 79.24, and EUR/RUB was likewise unchanged at 0.00% to 89.09.
Macro snapshot
The US Dollar Index Futures was reported up 0.31% at 101.27 during the trading snapshot included with the session data.
Overall, Thursday's close left the MOEX Russia Index modestly higher, led by energy names and supported by select gains in manufacturing and telecoms, while mining and a few large-cap conglomerates weighed on breadth.