MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. At the beginning of trading on the Moscow Exchange on Monday, the MOEX index was about 3,300 points.

At the end of the day, the MOEX index decreased by 0.11%, to 3,296.3 points, while the dollar-denominated RTS index increased by 0.88%, to 1,129.5 points.

The yuan-to-ruble exchange rate decreased by 0.13% to 12.73 rubles, the dollar-to-ruble rate dropped by 1.1% to 91.8 rubles, the euro-to-ruble rate we down by 1.16%, to 100.05 rubles.

Buying activity typical for Monday was restrained by the strong impulse of the ruble strengthening. In addition, the geopolitical background remains tense, said investment strategist at BCS World of Investments Alexander Bakhtin.

The external economic background was positive.

"The growth rate of inflation in the eurozone in February expectedly decreased to 2.6% year-on-year. A package of macro statistics was released in China, including information on industrial production, unemployment and retail sales. Since the beginning of 2024, industrial production has increased by 7% in annual terms, which significantly exceeded expectations," the expert added.

On Monday, the growth leaders at the end of the session were the quoted prices of RussNeft (+3.58%), shares of Novabev Group (+3.32%), securities of VK (+1.91%), quoted prices of Yandex (+1. 8%), shares of Seligdar (+1.56%).

The decline leaders were shares of Detsky Mir (-2.56%), shares of OGK-2 (-2.35%), quoted prices of Polymetal (-2.22%), quoted prices of Sovcomflot (- 1.76%), PIK securities (-1.57%), shares of TCS Holding (-0.1%).

According to BCS World of Investments, on Tuesday, March 19, the MOEX index will be 3,250-3,350 points, the dollar-to-ruble rate will be in the range of 90.5-92.5 rubles.

Freedom Finance Global expects that tomorrow the MOEX index will again move in the range of 3,300-3,400 points, the dollar-to-ruble rate will fluctuate between 90 and 92 rubles, the euro-to-ruble rate will be in the range of 98-100 rubles, the yuan-to-ruble rate will vary between 12.5-12.9 rubles.