The Russian stock market has continued its upward momentum at the opening of the main trading session on March 18, 2025, with key indices showing positive movement as investors remain optimistic amid rising tension surrounding Ukraine.
Investors are closely monitoring upcoming telephone talks between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on pathways to resolve the volatile situation around Ukraine. The anticipation of these negotiations seems to be bolstering investor sentiment, fueling the upward trend across major stocks.
Prominent trends were identified as the external environment displayed mixed dynamics among global markets. While some global markets exhibited uncertainty, oil prices have been on the rise, driven by increasing tensions in the Middle East. Brent oil futures soared above $71.40 per barrel, signaling potential inflationary pressures and reviving investor interest.
At the end of the first minute of trading, key indices demonstrated positive dynamics, particularly the Moscow Exchange index, which recorded gains of 0.5% relative to the previous close, reaching 3,262.36 points, and the RTS index, also gaining 0.5% to sit at 1,219.03 points.
Most liquid stocks reported significant growth, engaging within 1.5%, which kept investor morale high. Nevertheless, some shares faced local setbacks. Notably, the shares of Gazprom, which reported unfavorable financial results for the fiscal year under Russian accounting standards (RAS) on March 17, experienced slight declines of 0.3% shortly after their release.
By 10:05 AM Moscow time, the momentum slightly slowed down, with the Moscow Exchange index posting at 3,260.92 points and the RTS index down to 1,218.49 points, each reflecting minor gains of 0.48%.
Even though the market displayed slight fluctuations, the overall sentiment remains hopeful as the geopolitical backdrop continues to evolve. The upcoming discussions between the U.S. and Russian leaders could either reinforce or dampen investor enthusiasm, depending on the outcome.
