Russia’s benchmark MOEX Russia Index advanced 1.23% at the close of trade on Wednesday, as gains in mining, power and oil & gas shares offset declines in financial and industrial names.
Advancers outnumbered decliners by 150 to 95 on the Moscow exchange, with nine issues unchanged. The Russian Volatility Index, which tracks implied volatility for MOEX options, eased 1.04% to 44.86, reflecting reduced near-term uncertainty.
Commodity-linked equities led the advance. Polyus PJSC surged 6.63% to 1,189.80, while Norilsk Nickel PJSC added 4.30% to 122.10. Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works PJSC rose 4.14% to 21.26. In contrast, Moskovskiy Kreditnyi Bank PJSC fell 10.72% to 12.76, the sharpest decline among major components.
The broader market backdrop showed a weaker U.S. dollar, with the Dollar Index futures down 0.87% to 98.69. The ruble held steady against the dollar at 84.96 and the euro at 99.22.
Commodities traded mixed. December gold futures rose 3.62% to $4,580.75 per troy ounce, while October Brent crude slipped 0.01% to $91.60 per barrel. October WTI crude edged up 0.40% to $84.40 per barrel.
