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Russian stock indices in the green as trading on Moscow Exchange closes on Monday

The MOEX index rose by 3.87%, while the dollar-denominated RTS index increased by 2.6%

MOSCOW, February 17. /TASS/. Russian stock indices were in the green by the end of trading session on the Moscow Exchange on Monday.

The MOEX index rose by 3.87%, to 3,308.41 points, the dollar-denominated RTS index increased by 2.6%, to 1,139.85 points.

The yuan-to-ruble exchange rate rose by 4.3 kopecks and was trading at 12.6 rubles.

"The MOEX index started the week with growth, the benchmark was above the round 3,300 points for the first time since May 2024," said Alexander Shepelev, an expert on the stock market at BCS World of Investments.

On Monday, the leaders of growth by the end of the session were shares of Segezha (+19.53%), St. Petersburg Stock Exchange (+7.07%), FESCO (+7.03%), VTB (+6.9%) and Mechel preferred shares (+6.58%).

"The leaders of growth were shares of the Segezha forestry group, which may most likely be associated with expectations of an improvement in the company's financial results in the context of possible government support and, possibly, the lifting of sanctions," noted Natalia Milchakova, leading analyst at Freedom Finance Global.

The leaders of decline by the end of the session were Polyus shares (-2.59%) and Moscow Credit Bank (-0.17%).

"The leaders of decline were shares of the gold miner Polyus, possibly during a correction after the recent growth," the expert added.

According to BCS World of Investments, on Tuesday, the MOEX index will trade in the range of 3,200 - 3,325 points. Experts also expect the yuan rate to be at the level of 12-13 rubles, the dollar rate will be in the range of 90-95 rubles.

Freedom Finance Global expects that on February 18, the MOEX index will move in the range of 2,550-3,350 points, the benchmarks for the dollar, euro and yuan exchange rates are: 90-92 rubles, 94-96 rubles and 12.3-12.8 rubles, respectively.

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