Retail investors become net buyers of stocks for first time since July 2024 - CBR

MOSCOW. April 9 (Interfax) - Retail investors were the biggest net buyers of shares on the Russian market in March, with purchases totaling 36.2 billion rubles, the highest figure since August 2023, the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) said in a report on financial market risks.

This was the first time retail investors were monthly net buyers on the stock market since July 2024.

Nonresidents from friendly countries were also net buyers in March, purchasing shares worth 13.4 billion rubles. Most of their net purchases occurred at the end of March, and they continued at the beginning of April, the CBR said.

Systemically important credit institutions and non-credit financial institutions acting as trust managers were also net buyers of shares, purchasing 8.7 billion rubles and 6.2 billion rubles worth, respectively.

The largest net sellers were banks that are not classified as systemically important, who increased sales to 30.8 billion rubles in March from 20.8 billion rubles in February. Noncredit financial institutions also continued to sell with their own funds, dumping 27.5 billion rubles worth of shares.

There was a mixed dynamic on the Russian stock market in March and the Moscow Exchange Index lost 5.8% in the month, the CBR recalled. In addition to the geopolitical situation, share prices were affected by the CBR maintaining a moderately firm signal on monetary policy.

Average daily trading volume on the stock market fell 25% to 159.2 billion rubles in March from 211.4 billion rubles in February, returning to where it was in January but still exceeding the 2024 figure of 111.2 billion rubles. Retail investors' share decreased to an average of 72.9% from 76.3% in February.

The SPB Exchange and Moscow Exchange launched weekend trading in the first quarter of 2025. Transactions on weekends were primarily made in the interests of retail investors, who accounted for 90.3% of trading on the Moscow Exchange and 80.7% on the SPB Exchange, the CBR said.