MICEX stock index bounces back above 1900
MOSCOW. March 22 (Interfax) - The MICEX stock index, which fell on the back of the international markets earlier today in the wake of the terror attacks on Brussels, bounced back to close above 1900.
The MICEX ended the day down just 0.1% at 1903.47, its session low being 1888.59, while the RTS rose 0.6% to 889.02.
Ruble-priced benchmark decliners on the Moscow Exchange included VTB (-2.4%), Gazprom (-0.2%), Lukoil (-1.6%), Magnit (-0.4%), Polyus Gold (-0.6%), Tatneft (-0.3%, -1.6% prefs) and Moscow Exchange (-0,7%).
Sberbank ordinary shares reached an all-time high of 114.19 rubles - their previous record was 113.05 rubles on July 24, 2007 - but closed down 0.5% at 111.49 rubles. The bank's preferred shares rose 0.3% to 80.03 rubles.
There were gains for Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) (+0.8%), Novatek (+0.6%), MMC Norilsk Nickel (+0.5%), Rosneft (+1.6%), Rostelecom (+1.2%), Surgutneftegas (+2.3%,+1.2% prefs) and FGC UES (+4.9%).
Second-tier decliners included Project Investments (-14.7%), Rusolovo (-13.5%), Novorossiisk Bread Products Plant (-5.8%) and E.ON Russia (-3.5%).
Among advancers, GTL (+10.7%), Mosoblbank (+5.6%), Severstal (+4.5%), Plazmek (+4.2%), Kazanorgsintez (+3.9%), Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK) (+3.2%), Russian Grids (+2.5%) and Uralkali (+2.4%).
Combined trading volume on the main Moscow Exchange market was 45.322 billion rubles, of which 12.082 billion rubles in Sberbank ordinary shares.