South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
U.S. Dollar Reaches One-Year High as Tech Sell-Off and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Support Demand 
Australian Household Spending Rebounds Strongly in May as Travel and Dining Drive Consumer Growth 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Russian stocks ended Saturday’s session little changed, with the MOEX Russia Index closing flat at 0.00% on the Moscow Exchange. Market activity remained subdued, reflecting a balanced performance across major sectors as investors monitored global commodity prices and currency movements.
Among the notable stocks on the MOEX Russia Index, AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX: AFKS) finished unchanged at 13.80. Aeroflot PJSC (MCX: AFLT) also closed flat at 57.08, while ROSSETI PJSC (MCX: FEES) held steady at 0.08 in late trading. Interestingly, these same companies were listed among both the session’s best and worst performers due to the absence of significant price movement, highlighting the market’s stagnant tone. Overall, advancing and declining stocks were evenly matched on the Moscow Stock Exchange, with no clear лидership emerging by the close.
The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), which tracks implied volatility on MOEX Russia Index options, remained unchanged at 24.92. The steady RVI reading suggests that investor sentiment and risk expectations were largely stable despite movements in global markets.
In commodities trading, gold prices posted strong gains. Gold futures for April delivery jumped 1.98%, rising $97.90 to reach $5,046.30 per troy ounce. The sharp increase in gold prices points to continued demand for safe-haven assets. Meanwhile, crude oil prices recorded modest gains. March crude oil futures edged up 0.08% to $62.89 per barrel, while April Brent crude rose 0.34% to trade at $67.75 per barrel.
Currency markets saw the Russian ruble strengthen against major peers. USD/RUB declined 0.74% to 76.65, and EUR/RUB fell 0.76% to 90.97. The US Dollar Index Futures slipped slightly by 0.02% to 96.82, reflecting limited movement in the broader dollar market.
Overall, the flat close of the MOEX Russia Index, combined with rising gold prices and a firmer ruble, signals a cautious but stable trading environment in Russia’s financial markets.
