Stock Markets August 21, 2026 05:20 PM

Moscow stocks close higher as energy, mining and power names lead gains

MOEX Russia Index advances 0.60% as miners and metallurgical firms post strongest rises; volatility eases

By Marcus Reed
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MAGN ALRS

Shares listed on Moscow ended the session in positive territory as the MOEX Russia Index rose 0.60%. Outperformance came from mining and metals names, while select banking and telecom issues lagged. Volatility on MOEX options declined and commodity prices showed mixed moves, with gold jumping sharply.

Moscow stocks close higher as energy, mining and power names lead gains
MAGN ALRS
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Key Points

  • MOEX Russia Index closed up 0.60% with gains led by Oil & Gas, Mining and Power sectors.
  • Top individual gainers included GMKN (+3.97%), MAGN (+3.91%) and ALRS (+3.17%); biggest decliner was CBOM (-2.93%).
  • RVI fell 4.05% to 44.77 while gold futures rose sharply and crude oil showed mixed movement.

Russian equities finished the trading session higher, supported by gains in Oil & Gas, Mining and Power sectors that pushed the MOEX Russia Index up 0.60% at the close in Moscow.

Top movers

  • GMK Noril'skiy Nikel' PAO (GMKN) was the session's leader, climbing 3.97% - a 4.80 point rise - to finish at 124.60.
  • Magnitogorskiy Metallurgicheskiy Kombinat PAO (MAGN) added 3.91%, gaining 0.81 points to close at 21.50.
  • AK ALROSA PJSC (ALRS) rose 3.17% or 0.60 points to end the day at 19.52.

Lagging names

  • Moskovskiy Kreditnyi Bank PAO (CBOM) was the weakest performer, falling 2.93% or 0.34 points to close at 11.13.
  • Rostelekom PJSC (RTKM) slipped 0.44% or 0.18 points, ending at 41.17.
  • Surgutneftegas PJSC Pref (SNGS_p) declined 0.31% or 0.13 points to 39.97.

Market breadth and volatility

On the Moscow Stock Exchange, advancing issues outnumbered decliners by 170 to 69, while 14 stocks finished unchanged. The Russian Volatility Index - RVI, which tracks implied volatility for MOEX Russia Index options, fell 4.05% to 44.77, signaling lower option-implied volatility at the close.

Commodities and energy contracts

In commodities trading, December Gold Futures jumped 1.97% - up $90.20 - to trade at $4,661.60 a troy ounce. Crude oil for October delivery eased 0.22% or $0.19 to $86.64 a barrel, while the October Brent contract inched higher by 0.16% or $0.15 to $93.93 a barrel.

Foreign exchange and dollar

FX moves included USD/RUB climbing 0.16% to 83.88 and EUR/RUB declining 1.28% to 96.56. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.05% at 98.77.

Overall, the session saw selective sector strength concentrated in miners and metallurgical producers, with some financial and telecom names underperforming. Volatility on MOEX options moderated, while commodity prices delivered mixed signals across precious metals and crude contracts.

Risks

  • Lower implied volatility as shown by a 4.05% drop in the RVI may reflect reduced option-driven hedging activity - this could affect derivatives trading in the options market.
  • Weakness in select banking and telecom names, such as CBOM and RTKM, highlights concentration risk within financials and communications sectors.
  • Mixed commodity price moves - strong gold gains versus softer crude oil - add uncertainty for energy and metals-linked companies' revenue and cost dynamics.

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