25 Sep 2009 19:33

Russian stock market displays volatility at close of week

MOSCOW. Sept 25 (Interfax) - The Russian stock market displayed volatility at the end of the week following the release of varying U.S. economic stats.

Benchmark stocks on the MICEX Stock Exchange increased by 0.9% to 1,187.86 points while the RTS Index went down by 1.36% to 1,225.29 points.

The loss in RTS futures came to 14.4 points, indicating a generally negative mood among investors.

The MICEX Stock Exchange lost 1.7% for the week while the RTS Index went down by 1.6%.

Posting gains for the day were Gazprom , up 0.4% on the MICEX, Lukoil - 1.5%, MMC Norilsk Nickel - 3.2%, Rosneft - 0.8%, Gazprom Neft - 0.3% and Sberbank - 2.4%.

Decliners for the day were VTB , up 0.2% and 8.6% on the RTS, Surgutneftegas - 1.5%, Tatneft - 0.04% and Polyus Gold - 0.8%.

Posting gains among second tier stocks on MICEX Stock Exchange on Friday were PIK Group , down 29.7% and 18.2% on the RTS (after Deutsche Bank raised the forecast value of the group's GDRs by 8), Raspadskaya - 9.6%, Belon - 7.5% and TGK-1 - 5.8%.

Posting losses were AvtoVaz , down 7.7%, Irkutskenergo - 3.1% and OGK-5 - 2.9%.

Total RTS Classic trading for the day came to $14.15 million, RTS Standard - $340.55 million and MICEX Stock Exchange deals - 70.67 billion rubles, led by Sberbank common shares with 29.09 billion rubles in deals.