Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Fed Meeting Sparks Division as Markets Brace for Possible Rate Cut 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
Austria’s AA Credit Rating Affirmed as Fitch Highlights Stable Outlook 
Russian stocks closed flat on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index ending the session unchanged at 0.00%. Market activity was mixed, with key gainers and losers reflecting cautious investor sentiment.
Leading the gains were Mobil’nye Telesistemy PJSC (MCX:MTSS), which rose 0.77% to 236.30, Magnit PJSC (MCX:MGNT), up 0.56% to 3,620.00, and Surgutneftegas PJSC Pref (MCX:SNGS_p), which added 0.46% to close at 53.48. On the downside, PhosAgro PJSC (MCX:PHOR) declined 0.55% to 6,360.00, while Magnitogorskiy Metallurgicheskiy Kombinat PAO (MCX:MAGN) slipped 0.35% to 33.03, and Severstal PJSC (MCX:CHMF) dropped 0.29% to 1,030.00.
Overall, advancing stocks outpaced decliners on the Moscow Exchange by a margin of 79 to 30, with 4 remaining unchanged. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), a gauge of market uncertainty, also remained flat at 33.01.
In commodities, gold futures for August delivery fell 1.36% to $3,302.30 per troy ounce, reflecting a broader pullback in safe-haven assets. In contrast, crude oil prices climbed, with WTI crude for August rising 0.43% to $65.52 per barrel and Brent crude for September up 0.16% to $66.80 per barrel.
In forex markets, the Russian ruble strengthened, as USD/RUB slipped 0.32% to 78.50 and EUR/RUB edged down 0.15% to 92.00. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index Futures gained 0.28% to 97.03, signaling sustained dollar strength in global markets.
This mixed session reflects cautious optimism amid global market fluctuations and commodity volatility.
