Stock Markets May 8, 2026 05:20 PM

Moscow market edges lower at close; MOEX Russia Index dips 0.49% to three-month low

Mining, oil and manufacturing sectors weigh as several blue chips retreat and volatility ticks higher

By Caleb Monroe

Russia's equity market closed lower on Friday, with the MOEX Russia Index falling 0.49% to a new three-month low. Losses were concentrated in the Mining, Oil & Gas and Manufacturing sectors. Market breadth showed more winners than losers, while volatility and commodity price moves added to the trading picture.

Moscow market edges lower at close; MOEX Russia Index dips 0.49% to three-month low

Key Points

  • MOEX Russia Index fell 0.49% to a new three-month low, with losses concentrated in Mining, Oil & Gas and Manufacturing sectors.
  • Notable stock moves: NOVATEK (MCX:NVTK) +1.74% to 1,144.90; TATNEFT (MCX:TATN_p) +1.70% to 544.00; Novolipetsk Steel (MCX:NLMK) -1.16% to 83.62, hitting a three-year low.
  • Commodities and FX: Gold futures rose to $4,723.70/oz; June crude at $94.68/bbl and July Brent at $100.57/bbl; USD/RUB at 74.40 and EUR/RUB at 87.46.

Russia stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Mining, Oil & Gas and Manufacturing sectors pushed the market down.

At the close in Moscow, the MOEX Russia Index declined 0.49% to hit a new 3-months low.

Among individual movers on the MOEX Russia Index, ROSSETI PJSC (MCX:FEES) was listed among the session's best performers, recorded as unchanged 2.44% or 0.00 points to trade at 0.07 at the close. NOVATEK PJSC (MCX:NVTK) advanced 1.74% or 19.60 points to finish at 1,144.90, while TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin Pref (MCX:TATN_p) rose 1.70% or 9.10 points to 544.00 in late trade.

The day's laggards included Novolipetsk Steel (MCX:NLMK), which fell 1.16% or 0.98 points to trade at 83.62 at the close. Moskovskiy Kreditnyi Bank PAO (MCX:CBOM) declined 1.15% or 0.07 points to end at 6.10, and PhosAgro PJSC (MCX:PHOR) was down 0.82% or 55.00 points to 6,669.00.

Market breadth on the Moscow Stock Exchange showed more rising issues than decliners, with 140 stocks up, 102 down and 8 finishing unchanged.

Shares in Novolipetsk Steel (MCX:NLMK) fell to 3-years lows; losing 1.16% or 0.98 to 83.62.

Volatility on the MOEX options market moved higher: the Russian Volatility Index - RVI, which measures the implied volatility of MOEX Russia Index options, was up 0.59% to 25.57.

Commodity and currency moves accompanied equity trading. Gold Futures for June delivery rose 0.27% or 12.80 to $4,723.70 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for June delivery slipped 0.14% or 0.13 to $94.68 a barrel, while the July Brent contract increased 0.51% or 0.51 to trade at $100.57 a barrel.

On the foreign exchange front, USD/RUB was down 0.33% to 74.40, and EUR/RUB fell 0.08% to 87.46. The US Dollar Index Futures was lower by 0.22% at 97.73.


Summary of the close:

  • MOEX Russia Index declined 0.49% to a new three-month low.
  • Top performers included ROSSETI PJSC (MCX:FEES), NOVATEK PJSC (MCX:NVTK) and TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin Pref (MCX:TATN_p).
  • Notable decliners included Novolipetsk Steel (MCX:NLMK), Moskovskiy Kreditnyi Bank PAO (MCX:CBOM) and PhosAgro PJSC (MCX:PHOR).

The trading day closed with mixed signals across equities, commodities and currency pairs, and with implied volatility modestly higher on the MOEX options complex.

Risks

  • Rising implied volatility - the RVI increased 0.59% to 25.57, indicating heightened option-implied uncertainty for the MOEX Russia Index.
  • Continued downside in key industrial names - Novolipetsk Steel fell to three-year lows, reflecting downside risks in the Manufacturing and Mining sectors.
  • Commodity price swings - mixed moves in crude oil and gold could feed through to earnings and sector performance in Oil & Gas and Mining.

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