The MOEX Russia Index ended Saturday’s trading session on a slightly positive note, posting a gain of 0.26%. This modest uptick reflects a measured optimism among investors as certain sectors displayed resilience despite broader market uncertainties. The overall market momentum was supported by gains in Oil & Gas, Power, and Manufacturing stocks, which helped counterbalance the losses recorded in the Materials sector.
Among the top-performing companies during the session, Bank VTB PJSC saw a small increase in its share value, closing marginally higher at 83.30. Meanwhile, shares of GDR ROS AGRO PLC ORD SHS remained unchanged at 1,083.80, signaling a neutral investor sentiment in the agribusiness segment. TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin experienced a minor decline, closing 0.09% lower at 693.40.
The Materials sector was the weakest performer of the day, registering sharp declines. Magnitogorskiy Metallurgicheskiy Kombinat PAO dropped by 3.85% to 32.49, while Severstal PJSC declined by 3.73% to 1,022.40. AK ALROSA PJSC, a key player in the diamond mining sector, also fell by 3.69%, closing at 50.40. These losses highlight the ongoing volatility and sector-specific pressures that continue to weigh on industrial stocks.
Commodity markets played a critical role in shaping investor sentiment. Crude oil prices experienced strong upward momentum, with the May delivery contract rising by 3.54% to $64.68 per barrel. Brent crude for June delivery also surged by 3.20%, settling at $67.96 per barrel. The rebound in oil prices provided a boost to energy-related stocks and added confidence in the sector's short-term outlook. Conversely, gold prices declined slightly, with June futures down 0.15% to $3,341.30 per troy ounce, reflecting cautious movement among safe-haven investors.
In the currency market, the Russian ruble exhibited a mixed performance. The USD/RUB pair decreased by 0.09% to 82.10, suggesting a minor strengthening of the ruble against the U.S. dollar. On the other hand, the EUR/RUB pair rose by 0.16% to 93.52, indicating mild depreciation relative to the euro. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI) held steady at 51.60, signaling stable expectations for short-term market fluctuations.
The slight gain recorded by the MOEX Russia Index underscores the current state of equilibrium in the Russian equity market, where selective optimism in certain sectors is offset by losses in others. The positive performance in oil and gas stocks, buoyed by rising global crude prices, suggests that investors remain hopeful about energy demand and export stability. However, the pronounced decline in industrial and materials-related equities highlights underlying challenges, such as cost pressures, demand uncertainty, and geopolitical influences.
Moreover, fluctuations in currency values and commodity prices continue to influence market behavior, underscoring the interconnected nature of Russia’s economy with global trends. As investors digest macroeconomic signals, including central bank policy decisions and trade dynamics, the market is likely to maintain a cautious trajectory. In this complex environment, diversification and close monitoring of sectoral indicators will remain critical for investment strategies in the months ahead.