European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Russian equities closed mixed on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index ending the session flat at 0.00%, reflecting a cautious mood among investors. Market movements were largely muted as gains in select tech and industrial stocks were offset by declines in construction and energy shares.
Leading the session were VK Company Ltd (MCX: VKCO), which climbed 1.03% to close at 265.80, supported by steady demand in the digital sector. AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX: AFKS) added 0.77% to 12.50, while TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin Pref (MCX: TATN_p) rose 0.74% to 556.00, aided by moderate recovery in oil market sentiment.
However, losses in the construction and energy sectors weighed on the broader market. PIK SHb PJSC (MCX: PIKK) dropped 1.16% to 416.20, marking one of the session’s weakest performances. Surgutneftegas PJSC (MCX: SNGS) slipped 0.72% to 20.06, hitting a 52-week low, while OK Rusal MKPAO (MCX: RUAL) declined 0.53% to 29.99 amid subdued aluminum prices. Market breadth was evenly split, with 105 stocks declining, 105 advancing, and 16 unchanged on the Moscow Exchange.
In commodities, Gold Futures for December delivery rose 0.70% to $4,000.40 per troy ounce, signaling a flight to safety amid global uncertainty. Meanwhile, Crude Oil (November delivery) fell sharply by 4.24% to $58.90 per barrel, and Brent Oil (December contract) dropped 3.82% to $62.73.
Currency markets also reflected moderate volatility. The USD/RUB pair gained 0.55% to 81.63, and EUR/RUB advanced 1.04% to 94.85, while the U.S. Dollar Index Futures eased 0.55% to 98.73. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI) remained stable at 31.36, indicating steady investor sentiment despite global market fluctuations.
