MOSCOW, May 23 (PRIME) — The Russian stock market will keep flat at the opening of the trading session on Friday, as the impact of growth of the U.S. stock market futures will be outbalanced by the unraveling Ukrainian crisis, analysts said.
“I expect to see a neutral start of the Russian trading session today, and I assume that the MICEX may consolidate at the current levels in the conditions of rising unpredictability due to the Ukrainian crisis,” Promsvyazbank senior analyst Oleg Shagov said.
The Ukraine’s east saw armed clashes on Thursday, when almost no time is left to pacify the region before the presidential elections scheduled for May 25, Shagov said. “In this context, I cannot rule out a new wave of geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West, especially if Moscow does not recognize the results of the Sunday’s Ukrainian elections,” he said.
On Friday Morning, the Asian gauges were demonstrating mixed dynamics with the Nikkei 225 going up 1.13% to 14,499.52, and Hang Seng falling 0.10% to 22,930.00, as of 9.25 a.m., Moscow time. The U.S. stocks futures were increasing. This will give Russian bulls a certain support, analysts said.
Germany’s statistic releases including the gross domestic product figures for January–March and the Ifo business climate index for May, and the U.S. new home sales will be important for Russian investors on Friday, Alexei Bystrov, deputy CEO of investment company Olma, said.