9 Apr 2010 19:20

Russian stock market closes week with gains, MICEX approaches 1,500 points

MOSCOW. April 9 (Interfax) - The Russian stock market closed trading on Friday on a major note thanks to improvements in the external situation and commodities prices. The MICEX Stock Exchange increased to 1,500 points but was unable to hold above this level. The main advancer for the day was Transneft upon news of possibility of the company's additional capitalization.

The MICEX Stock Exchange went up by 1.37% to 1,496.88 points while the RTS Index increased by 1.93% to 1,631.81 points.

For the week, both the RTS Index and the MICEX Stock Exchange have increased by 1.1%

Futures on the RTS Index dropped against the base asset by 28.8 points, indicating a negative mood among investors.

Preferred shares in Transneft soared on the MICEX by 5.5% to 37,4500 rubles per share.

Other advancers for the day were VTB , up 1.7%, Gazprom - 0.4%, Gazprom Neft - 1.6%, MMC Norilsk Nickel - 1.6%, Lukoil - 0.7%, Rosneft - 2.1%, Rostelecom - 0.4%, Sberbank - 2.3% and 4.5% on the RTS and Surgutneftegas - 1.1%.

Posting gains among second tier stocks on the MICEX were RBC Information Systems , up 13.2% to 43.7 rubles, RAO ES East - 12.7%, RusHydro - 5.9% and Inter RAO UES - 4.9%.

Posting losses were Vozrozhdeniye Bank , down 3.3%, TGK-14 - 1.8%, Magnit - 1.2% and North-West Telecom - 1.1%.

Total RTS Classic Trading for the day came to $9.67 million, RTS Standard - $322.8 million and MICEX Stock Exchange deals - 53.7 billion rubles.