MOSCOW, March 21. /TASS/. The Russian stock indices were trading in positive territory on Thursday.

At the end of the day, the MOEX index rose by 0.6% to 3,286.69 points, and the dollar-denominated RTS index went up by 0.96% to 1,124.53 points. The yuan-to-ruble rate decreased by 0.068% to 12.729 rubles, the dollar-to-ruble rate went down by 0.19% to 92.06 rubles, the euro-to-ruble rate dropped by 0.21%, to 100.08 rubles.

"The MOEX index continued its recovery, aiming at 3,300 points. Buyers were restrained by falling oil prices and the strengthening of the ruble," said investment strategist at BCS World of Investments Alexander Bakhtin.

The external background has noticeably improved in light of the Fed's signals following yesterday's meeting. "Preliminary estimates of the PMI indices of European countries and the United States for March were not far from the forecast targets," the expert noted.

On Thursday, the growth leaders on the stock market were shares of Severstal (+3.3%) in anticipation of a possible steel shortage in Russia, suggested Natalya Milchakova, leading analyst at Freedom Finance Global. The leaders of the decline were shares of TCS Holding (-2.7%), apparently as a result of a correction after recent growth, the expert believes.

BCS World of Investments expects that on Friday, March 22, the MOEX index will be 3,235-3,325 points, the forecast for the dollar-to-ruble rate is 90.5-92.5 rubles.

Freedom Finance Global believes that tomorrow the MOEX index may fluctuate in the range of 3,200-3,300 points. The dollar-to-ruble will show movement in the range of 91-93 rubles, the euro-to-ruble - in the range of 98-100 rubles, the yuan-to-ruble rate - in the range of 12.5-12.9 rubles.