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Russian stocks finished Saturday’s trading session slightly lower overall, with the benchmark MOEX Russia Index closing unchanged at 0.00% in Moscow. Market sentiment remained cautious as investors weighed mixed performances across key sectors alongside movements in commodities and foreign exchange markets. Despite limited index movement, individual stocks posted notable gains and losses, reflecting selective investor interest rather than broad-based momentum.
Among the best-performing stocks on the MOEX Russia Index was Federal Hydro Generating Company RusHydro PJSC (MCX: HYDR), which advanced 1.28% to close at 0.43. OZON (MCX: OZON) also showed strength, rising 0.81% to finish at 4,689.50, while ROSSETI PJSC (MCX: FEES) ended the session unchanged at 0.08, effectively flat but still counted among the day’s relatively stronger names. These gains highlighted ongoing interest in utilities and select technology-linked stocks within the Russian equity market.
On the downside, NOVATEK PJSC (MCX: NVTK) was the weakest performer, slipping 0.22% to close at 1,175.40. Novolipetsk Steel (MCX: NLMK) declined 0.21% to 113.24, while Moskovskaya Birzha PJSC (MCX: MOEX) edged lower by 0.16% to 181.68. These modest declines reflected profit-taking and subdued demand in energy, steel, and financial services shares.
Market breadth was positive, with advancing stocks outnumbering decliners by 182 to 42, while 18 stocks finished unchanged. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), a key measure of implied volatility for MOEX options, remained steady at 26.52, signaling stable near-term risk expectations.
In commodities trading, gold futures for April delivery fell sharply by 11.39% to $4,763.10 per troy ounce. Oil prices also moved lower, with March crude oil down 0.32% at $65.21 per barrel and April Brent crude declining 0.39% to $69.32. In currency markets, USD/RUB edged up 0.05% to 76.00, while EUR/RUB dropped 0.95% to 90.06. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index Futures climbed 0.75% to 96.86, adding pressure to emerging market currencies.
