Russian equities ended the trading session on Saturday with a mixed profile as the MOEX Russia Index closed unchanged - 0.00% - and registered a fresh one-month low.
Among individual names, Bank VTB PJSC (MCX:VTBR) was the session's top mover on the index, rising 0.92% or 0.85 points to finish at 92.51. Moskovskiy Kreditnyi Bank PAO (MCX:CBOM) added 0.90% or 0.05 points to close at 5.47, and OK Rusal MKPAO (MCX:RUAL) gained 0.77% or 0.32 points to end the day at 42.72.
On the downside, TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin Pref (MCX:TATN_p) declined 0.31% or 1.80 points to settle at 586.70. Federal Hydro Generating Company RusHydro PJSC (MCX:HYDR) was effectively unchanged - listed as 0.23% or 0.00 points - and closed at 0.44. Gazprom PJSC (MCX:GAZP) slipped 0.17% or 0.22 points to 132.80.
Advancers outnumbered decliners on the Moscow Stock Exchange, with 135 stocks rising versus 83 falling, and 24 securities finishing unchanged.
Market breadth was accompanied by subdued implied volatility. The Russian Volatility Index - RVI, which reflects the implied volatility of options on the MOEX Russia Index, was unchanged - 0.00% - and stood at 20.70, marking a new 52-week low.
Commodities traded with mixed results. Gold Futures for June delivery rose 0.49% or 23.00 to $4,702.70 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for May delivery increased 0.47% or 0.52 to $112.06 a barrel, while the June Brent contract moved up 7.78% or 7.87 to $109.03 a barrel.
Foreign exchange rates showed modest moves: USD/RUB declined 0.24% to 80.01, and EUR/RUB fell 0.42% to 92.15. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.13% at 99.99.
Summary of session specifics - the index itself finished unchanged at a one-month low; several large-cap banks and a major metals producer were among the best performers; certain energy and hydro-generation names were among the laggards. Advancers exceeded decliners by a margin of 135 to 83, with 24 unchanged issues. The RVI recorded a 52-week low even as gold and oil prices rose.