MOSCOW: Russia stocks were lower after the close on Monday, as losses in the Oil & Gas, Power and Telecoms sectors led shares lower. At the close in Moscow, the MICEX fell 0.72%. The best performers of the session on the MICEX were Severstal – ao (MCX:CHMF), which rose 2.50% or 23.30 points to trade at 955.90 at the close. Meanwhile, RusHydro JSC (MCX:HYDR) added 1.12% or 0.0122 points to end at 1.1000 and MegaFon OAO (MCX:MFON) was up 0.80% or 5.00 points to 630.90 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Bashneft ANK ao (MCX:BANE), which fell 6.45% or 242.0 points to trade at 3507.5 at the close. United Company Rusal Plc (MCX:RUAL) declined 3.36% or 1.180 points to end at 33.950 and AFK Sistema (MCX:AFKS) was down 3.14% or 0.760 points to 23.430. Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Moscow Stock Exchange by 126 to 87 and 25 ended unchanged. Shares in RusHydro JSC (MCX:HYDR) rose to 3-years highs; gaining 1.12% or 0.0122 to 1.1000.
The Russian VIX, which measures the implied volatility of MICEX options, was down 0.74% to 22.870. Gold Futures for April delivery was up 0.83% or 10.15 to $1230.95 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in March fell 1.19% or 0.64 to hit $53.19 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract fell 1.51% or 0.86 to trade at $55.95 a barrel. USD/RUB was down 0.08% to 58.9371, while EUR/RUB fell 0.62% to 63.265. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.36% at 100.05.
