Russian stocks set new highs for 2010, Sberbank leads
MOSCOW. Dec 6 (Interfax) - Russian stocks opened the week by hitting a new high for 2010 on the improving global equities situation and positive comments from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who said the volume of quantitative easing might be increased. Meanwhile, TNK-BP Holding share declined on their first day of trading.
The RTS index closed up 1.43% to 1,711.44 points and the MICEX index rose 1.39% to 1,672.57 points.
Sberbank Russia was the leading advancer, gaining 2.5% on volume of 26.257 billion rubles on MICEX, following publication of solid IFRS results for the first nine months of the year.
Among other advancers, VTB gained 1.3%, Gazprom added 1.9%, Lukoil was up 1.9%, Polyus Gold rose 0.3%, Rosneft - up 0.8%, Rostelecom - up 0.2% and Surgutneftegas - up 1.2%.
Gazprom Neft and MMC Norilsk Nickel each edged lower 0.2%.
Ordinary shares in TNK-BP Holding, which began trading on MICEX on Monday shed 4.4% to close at 88 rubles each, down from 92 rubles recorded in the first transaction on Monday. Preferred shares were down 7.8%, to 79.89 rubles from 86.66 rubles.
In the second tier on MICEX, RBC Information Systems gained 17.2% due to an impending share exchange for the new lead company in the group, RBC-TV Moscow, according to VTB 24 analyst Stanislav Kleshchev. RTM was up 5.1%, Belon added 3.9% and Pharmacy Chain 36,6 was up 2.9%.
Among decliners, TGK-14 fell 2.2%, IDGC Holding was down 2.1% and TGK-13 declined 1.5%.
Volume totaled $2.84 million on RTS Classica, $499.84 million on RTS Standard and 72.282 billion rubles on MICEX.
RTS$#&: APTK, GAZP, GMKN, GUTB, LKOH, PLZL, RBCI, ROSN, RTKM, RTMC, SBER, SIBN, SNGS, TGKM, TGKN, VTBR