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Japan Nominates Reflationist Economists to BOJ Board, Signaling Policy Shift 
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PBOC Scraps FX Risk Reserves to Curb Rapid Yuan Appreciation 
Oil Prices Steady as US-Iran Nuclear Talks and Rising Crude Inventories Shape Market Outlook 
IMF Urges U.S. to Cut Fiscal Deficit to Reduce Trade and Current Account Gaps 
Asian Markets Slide as Nvidia Earnings, U.S.-Iran Tensions and AI Valuations Weigh on Investor Sentiment 
Dominican Republic Unveils Massive Rare Earth Deposits to Boost High-Tech and Energy Sectors 
USITC to Review Impact of Revoking China’s PNTR Status, Potentially Raising Tariffs on Chinese Imports 
Gold Prices Rally in February as Geopolitical Risks and Economic Uncertainty Boost Safe-Haven Demand 
Australia Inflation Rises Above Forecast in January, Fueling Interest Rate Hike Concerns 
U.S. Stocks Rally as Nvidia Earnings Loom, Oil Prices Near Seven-Month Highs 
U.S. Stocks Close Lower as Hot PPI Data, Nvidia Slide Weigh on Wall Street 
U.S. Stock Futures Fall as Nvidia Drops Despite Strong Earnings; Netflix Jumps 9% 
Russian stocks closed mixed on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index finishing flat but reaching a new three-month high. Despite ending the session unchanged at 0.00%, investor sentiment remained supported by strong performances in major energy shares on the Moscow Stock Exchange (MOEX).
Among the top gainers on the MOEX Russia Index were TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin (MCX:TATN), which climbed 3.04% to 559.50 rubles. LUKOIL PJSC (MCX:LKOH) followed closely, advancing 2.99% to close at 5,376.50 rubles. Preferred shares of TATNEFT (MCX:TATN_p) also performed well, rising 2.98% to 535.00 rubles. Strength in oil-related stocks helped offset broader market weakness and supported the benchmark index’s move to a multi-month high.
However, market breadth indicated underlying pressure, as declining stocks significantly outnumbered advancers by 185 to 51, while 11 shares ended unchanged. Federal Hydro Generating Company RusHydro PJSC (MCX:HYDR) led the losers, falling 1.80% to 0.44 rubles. Retail giant Magnit PJSC (MCX:MGNT) dropped 1.65% to 3,304.00 rubles, and Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MCX:MAGN) slipped 1.30% to 31.10 rubles.
Volatility remained subdued, with the Russian Volatility Index (RVI) holding steady at 23.92, marking a one-month low and signaling relatively stable investor expectations.
In commodities trading, gold futures for April delivery surged 1.03% to $5,267.20 per troy ounce. Crude oil prices also strengthened, with April contracts rising 2.78% to $67.02 per barrel, while May Brent crude gained 2.87% to $72.87 per barrel.
Currency markets saw the Russian ruble weaken slightly, as USD/RUB increased 0.55% to 77.30 and EUR/RUB rose 0.69% to 91.32. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index futures edged down 0.17% to 97.57, reflecting modest pressure on the greenback.
Overall, gains in energy stocks and firm commodity prices helped Russia’s benchmark index maintain its upward momentum, even as broader market participation remained uneven.
