MOSCOW: Russia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Manufacturing, Oil & Gas and Telecoms sectors led shares higher. At the close in Moscow, the MICEX gained 0.48% to hit a new 6-months high. The best performers of the session on the MICEX were Polyus OAO (MCX:PLZL), which rose 1.90% or 83.0 points to trade at 4445.0 at the close. Meanwhile, MosEnrg (MCX:MSNG) added 1.57% or 0.0465 points to end at 3.0005 and Surgut (MCX:SNGS) was up 1.48% or 0.430 points to 29.440 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Yevroplan PAO (MCX:EPLN), which fell 5.45% or 37.0 points to trade at 641.5 at the close. Uralkaliy (MCX:URKA) declined 1.49% or 2.15 points to end at 142.20 and DIXY Group ao (MCX:DIXY) was down 1.17% or 3.70 points to 311.60. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Moscow Stock Exchange by 115 to 104 and 17 ended unchanged. Shares in Yevroplan PAO (MCX:EPLN) fell to 52-week lows; down 5.45% or 37.0 to 641.5.
The Russian VIX, which measures the implied volatility of MICEX options, was down 2.29% to 16.210 a new all time low. Gold Futures for December delivery was down 0.89% or 11.55 to $1290.15 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in November rose 0.40% or 0.21 to hit $52.09 a barrel, while the December Brent oil contract fell 0.76% or 0.44 to trade at $57.48 a barrel. USD/RUB was up 0.53% to 58.1315, while EUR/RUB rose 0.34% to 68.4123. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.31% at 93.10.
