28 Jul 2009 10:55

Russian stocks open higher on Tues; MICEX index up 0.56%

MOSCOW. July 28 (Interfax) - Russian stocks opened higher on Tuesday, with the blue chips, led by bank stocks, posting gains of up to 1%.

The MICEX index was up 0.56% to 1,042.04 points as of 10:32 a.m.

Advancers included VTB - up 1%, Sberbank Russia - up 0.9%, Gazprom Neft - up 0.86%, Polyus Gold - up 0.65%, Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) - up 0.6%, Gazprom - up 0.56%, Surgutneftegas - up 0.55%, Tatneft - up 0.38%, MMC Norilsk Nickel - up 0.35%, Rosneft - up 0.28% and Lukoil - up 0.13%.

Analysts said Russian stocks rose at the open on favorable equities markets abroad, which saw gains on virtually all exchanges in the U.S. and Europe on Monday and on Asian markets on Tuesday, and rising oil prices, which saw Brent crude futures rise to $71 per barrel.

RTS$#&: GAZP, GMKN, LKOH, MTSS, PLZL, ROSN, SBER, SIBN, SNGS, TATN, VTBR