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Russian stock indices end this week’s trading with decline

The dollar-to-ruble rate went up by 0.63% to 92.69 rubles, while the euro-to-ruble rate rose by 0.015% to 100.10 rubles

MOSCOW, March 22. /TASS/. The Russian stock indices switch to decline at the end of the week.

By the end of the trading session, the MOEX index fell by 0.4% to 3,273.49 points, the dollar-denominated RTS index dropped by 1.02% to 1,113.05 points.

The yuan-to-ruble rate increased by 0.0115% to 12.74 rubles, the dollar-to-ruble rate went up by 0.63% to 92.69 rubles, the euro-to-ruble rate rose by 0.015% to 100.10 rubles.

"The Friday factor, the decline in commodity prices, the harshness of the Central Bank’s signals following the meeting and the pullback of heavyweight Lukoil shares on dividend news had their impact," said investment strategist at BCS World of Investments Alexander Bakhtin.

The growth leaders at the end of the session were shares of Russneft (+1.65%), shares of Moscow Exchange (+1.10%), receipts of Etalon (+0.82%), preferred and ordinary shares of Surgutneftegas (+0.61% and +0.57%), quoted prices of Yandex (+0.75%).

The leaders of decline were shares of VK (-3.20%), preferred shares of Mechel (-2.75%), quoted prices of Raspadskaya (-2.67%), securities of Segezha (-2. 33%), Acron shares (-2%), Polyus quoted prices (-1.61%).

In the short term, BCS World of Investments expects the MOEX index to return to above 3,300 points. The company's forecast for the MOEX index for March 25 is 3,235-3,325 points, for the dollar-to-ruble rate the outlook is 91-93 rubles. According to Freedom Finance Global, on Monday the MOEX index may move in the range of 3,200-3,300 points. The dollar-to-ruble rate may trade in the range of 91-93 rubles, the euro-to-ruble rate will vary in in the range of 99-101 rubles, the yuan-to-ruble rate will be in the range of 12.6-13 rubles.

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