Japan Eyes Oil Futures Intervention to Stabilize Yen Amid Middle East Crisis 
Suspicious Oil Market Trades Precede Trump's Iran Peace Post by 15 Minutes 
Federal Reserve Balance Sheet Reduction: Brookings Research Outlines Possible Path Forward 
UK Consumer Confidence Weakens Amid Middle East Conflict and Rising Living Costs 
Asian Currencies Weaken as Dollar Rebounds Amid Middle East Uncertainty and Japan Inflation Data 
Asian Currencies Stay Muted as Dollar Holds Firm Amid Iran Uncertainty 
U.S. Stock Futures Steady as Iran Reviews U.S. Ceasefire Proposal 
Oil Prices Climb as Iran Reviews U.S. Peace Proposal Amid Middle East Tensions 
Oil Prices Rebound as Iran Denies U.S. Talks Amid Gulf War Supply Fears 
Currency Markets Show Caution Amid U.S.-Iran Negotiations 
Japan's Private Sector Growth Slows in March Amid Rising Costs and Middle East Uncertainty 
Australia-EU Free Trade Deal Signed After Years of Negotiations 
Iran-Israel Missile Strikes Continue Amid Mixed Signals on U.S.-Iran Diplomacy 
Asian Stocks Gain Amid Iran Conflict Uncertainty 
Wall Street Slides as Iran War Uncertainty, Oil Surge, and AI Fears Rattle Markets 
U.S. Futures Slide as Iran Denies Nuclear Talks with Washington 
U.S. Oil Prices Slide as Middle East Ceasefire Talks Spark Market Optimism 
Russian stocks edged higher on Saturday, driven by strength in the oil, gas, and power sectors. The MOEX Russia Index closed up 0.26%, signaling cautious optimism among investors despite mixed performance across key equities.
Bank VTB PJSC (MCX:VTBR) led the session’s gainers, inching up 0.02% to 83.30. GDR ROS AGRO PLC (MCX:AGRODR) remained flat at 1,083.80, while TATNEFT (MCX:TATN) slipped slightly by 0.09% to 693.40.
However, steelmakers weighed on the index. Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MCX:MAGN) saw the steepest loss, plunging 3.85% to 32.49. Severstal PJSC (MCX:CHMF) fell 3.73% to 1,022.40, and diamond giant ALROSA PJSC (MCX:ALRS) dropped 3.69% to 50.40.
Market breadth data was unavailable, indicating neutral sentiment across the broader exchange. Volatility remained stable, with the Russian Volatility Index (RVI) unchanged at 51.60.
In the commodities market, gold futures for June dipped 0.15% to $3,341.30 per troy ounce. Crude oil for May surged 3.54%, reaching $64.68 per barrel, while June Brent gained 3.20% to settle at $67.96, reflecting increased energy demand and geopolitical tensions.
Currency movements showed mixed trends. The USD/RUB pair declined 0.09% to 82.10, while EUR/RUB advanced 0.16% to 93.52. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index Futures saw minimal movement, down 0.01% at 99.13.
Despite weak performances from major metal stocks, gains in the energy sector helped lift the overall index. Investors continue to monitor global commodity prices and currency fluctuations as geopolitical developments unfold.
