20 Feb, 17:42

Russian stock indices up as trading on Moscow Exchange closes

By the end of the day, the ruble indicator rose by 0.67% to 3,292.62 points, while the dollar-denominated RTS index went up by 2.85% to 1,171.89 points

MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. The MOEX index traded in the green for most of Thursday.

By the end of the day, the ruble indicator rose by 0.67% to 3,292.62 points. Meanwhile the dollar-denominated RTS index went up by 2.85% to 1,171.89 points.

The yuan-to-ruble rate fell to 12 rubles before the close for the first time since September 3, 2024, according to Moscow Exchange data.

"The MOEX Index started trading in the green on Thursday and was mostly under the control of buyers during the day. The benchmark tried to consolidate above 3,300 points. In the meantime, the ruble updated multi-month highs, and oil prices did not change fundamentally. The encouraging data on inflation released by the Federal Statistics Service the day before might add confidence to traders," said Alexander Shepelev, an expert on the stock market at BCS World of Investments.

As for the external background, the situation was calm.

"The People's Bank of China kept the base lending rate (LPR) for a period of one year and five years at 3.1% and 3.6% per annum, respectively," the expert added. The minutes of the last Fed meeting published the day before noted that the regulator is concerned about inflation related to foreign trade tariffs and the economic plans of US President Donald Trump. Members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) believe that the process of returning inflation to 2% may slow down, the expert said.

On Thursday, the leaders of growth were shares of Rostelecom (+3.97%), Rusal (+2.75%), Magnit (+2.24%), En+ Group (+2.03%), Aeroflot (+1.81%) and Novatek (+1.72%), as well as Gazprom Neft (+1.62%).

"The leaders of growth on the stock market were ordinary shares of Rostelecom, probably in anticipation of the company's IFRS financial statements for 2024," says leading analyst at Freedom Finance Global Natalia Milchakova.

The leaders of decline by the end of the session were shares of the St. Petersburg Exchange (-5.2%), Segezha (-2.38%), PIK Group (-2.1%), and Gazprom (-1.96%).

Forecast for February 21

The forecast of BCS World of Investments for the MOEX index for February 21 is 3,200-3,350 points. "According to our estimates, on Friday the yuan-to-ruble exchange rate may move within the range of 11.9-12.3 rubles and the dollar rate may vary in the range of 87.5-92.5 rubles," the company noted.

According to Freedom Finance Global's expectations, tomorrow the MOEX index will fluctuate in the range of 3,250 - 3,350 points, the dollar rate will vary in the range of 87.5-89 rubles, the euro rate will be between 91 and 93 rubles and the yuan rate will be between 11.9 and 12.5 rubles.

Kremlin says Russian businesses do not want Western firms to return

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Yesterday, 17:00

Shooting in northern India kills 27 tourists, injures many others

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JD Vance calls on Ukraine, Russia to freeze border along current line of contact

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Yesterday, 02:42

Kiev blocks every effort to take bodies of Ukrainian soldiers from battlefields near Kursk

Russian security officer told TASS that Russian servicemen came under attack as they attempted to take the bodies of Ukrainian troops from areas near Guyevo and Nikolayevo-Daryino to mortuaries

Yesterday, 20:16

Rubio won’t attend Ukraine talks in London

US President Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg will attend the discussions

Two days ago, 14:25

EU cannot support Ukraine in military conflict without US — Kneissl

According to the former Austrian foreign minister, "France is now very upset that Germany and Poland are buying weapons from the United States, and not from France"

Yesterday, 19:54

White House confirms Witkoff to travel to Russia this week

Kremlin Foreign Policy Aide Yury Ushakov earlier said Witkoff plans to visit Moscow this week

China opposes Kiev’s accusations over alleged aid to Russia in Ukraine conflict — MFA

"China strongly opposes groundless accusations and political manipulations," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun pointed out

Zelensky not moving towards peace, but in opposite direction — White House

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that Donald Trump's "patience is running very thin"

Yesterday, 22:12

Kiev delegation set to discuss ceasefire during talks in London

According to Vladimir Zelensky, once a ceasefire is declared, Ukraine is ready to negotiate with Russia in any format

Yesterday, 22:41

China’s ambassador to Kiev summoned to Ukrainian foreign ministry

Kiev claimed that certain evidence was presented to the Chinese side, and "serious concerns" were expressed

NATO should be real alliance, not pact between US, 'handful of junior partners' — Rubio

"It has to be a NATO in which your partners are carrying their weight," the US secretary of state added

Yesterday, 13:51

Kadyrov says Ukrainian forces tried to cross Russian border in Sumy area, were stopped

According to the official, a Ukrainian armored fighting vehicle exploded on the minefield and was finished off by a precise strike of a fiber-optic drone

Yesterday, 06:07

Russian servicemen liberate Gornal monastery in Kursk Region — sources

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As Dmitry Peskov noted, "there are many nuances around the settlement that must be talked through"

Yesterday, 19:39

No deal yet with US on further military assistance — Zelensky

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Yesterday, 20:57

Russian painter of Trump portrait describes his work as priceless amid current tensions

According to Nikas Safronov, he depicted a collection of important symbols

Yesterday, 15:00

EU’s demands to leaders not to come to Moscow on May 9 show depth of West’s descent

"It's shameful that on the other side our adversaries dare to issue warnings to those who want to come to Moscow," Alexander Grushko said

London meeting on Ukraine ends with 'agreement on further consultations'

Earlier, the UK government said that talks on a peace settlement in Ukraine at the level of foreign ministers, which were to be held in London on Wednesday, had been postponed

Russia wants negotiations, while Europe wants war — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, Europe "has not shown any signs of independence"

Yesterday, 17:30

US to propose that Europe recognize Crimea as Russian — report

According to The Washington Post, the proposal will be part of a possible peace deal

US to pursue other tasks if no progress in Ukraine settlement comes — Rubio

The US secretary of state said that Washington put a lot of time and energy at the highest levels of the US government

Russian combat engineers survey 45 communities in Kursk border area for explosives

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US will not let Hamas to participate in post-conflict Gaza government — Trump

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EU shows lack of any clear foreign policy strategy — Russian Foreign Ministry

According to Kirill Logvinov, large-scale efforts on counteracting the so-called Russian threat vividly confirm this

Intense battles raging near Gornal community in Russia’s borderline Kursk Region

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Russia bars entry to 21 UK lawmakers — MFA

The decision came as a "response to London's ongoing confrontational policies, which include efforts to demonize our country, fabricate many anti-Russian narratives"

Russian troops liberate Tarasovka community in Donetsk region over past day

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Yesterday, 20:52

Search operation for foreign climbers on Mount Elbrus suspended until morning

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Xi Jinping to use Hongqi N701 limousine in Moscow — source

Hongqi will supply twenty H9 executive cars and ten H10 business minivans for guests during the Victory Day activities

Yesterday, 12:51

Ukraine conflict taught Russia how to counter Western weapons, senior NATO commander says

French Admiral Pierre Vandier warned that if NATO forces "do not regain their technical and tactical superiority," they could face difficulties during the next conflict

Chances to reach deal with US exist — foreign intel chief

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Yesterday, 17:39

Pope did not allow his court to set him against Russian Orthodox Church — Patriarch Kirill

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US understands Russia's position on Ukraine better after consultations — Rubio

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US disbands group gathering intelligence on Russia’s actions in Ukraine — WP

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Senate speaker resolutely rejects idea of sending European troops to Ukraine

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Yesterday, 13:57

Russian army breaches second line of Ukrainian defenses near Konstantinovka

Advisor to the DPR head Igor Kimakovsky noted that intense fighting is ongoing in the Chasov Yar area, where the enemy is attempting to hold strategic heights to prevent the Russian Armed Forces from gaining control of the region

Yesterday, 08:20

Ukrainian troops intentionally destroy Gornal monastery — Russian envoy

Rodion Miroshnik stressed that the monastery will be rebuilt

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Yesterday, 09:52

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Yesterday, 19:19

Zelensky fails to comment on Russian proposal to stop hitting civilian infrastructure

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Yesterday, 12:21

Switzerland imposes sanctions on eight Russian media outlets

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Yesterday, 21:44

US to reduce tariffs on Chinese goods, but they will never be at zero — Trump

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The Daily Telegraph wrote, with reference to an unnamed source, that provisions one and two envisage an immediate ceasefire and direct talks between Ukraine and Russia

Yesterday, 14:38

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Yesterday, 18:46

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Yesterday, 18:07

Zelensky reports explosion at Motor Sich plant

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Yesterday, 20:28

Houthis report another attack on US aircraft carriers

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Yesterday, 14:15

Hungarian PM casts vote opposing Ukraine's admission to the EU in national referendum

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Yesterday, 18:41

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Peace in Ukraine possible after Kiev withdraws troops from Donbass, Novorossiya — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov recalled that these regions are enshrined in the Russian Constitution as an integral part of it

EU continues to disregard shaping of multipolar world order — Russian diplomat

The Europeans still refuse to recognize the very fact of the emergence of new centers with political and economic influence across the world, Kirill Logvinov noted

Global South countries aware of root causes of conflict in Ukraine — Russian MFA

"It’s unlikely that the current EU leadership will gain a clearer perspective anytime soon," Kirill Logvinov stated

Russia doubles production of armaments, electronic warfare systems last year — Putin

The head of state emphasized that in 2024, almost all defense facilities "successfully completed the assignments under the State Defense Order, efficiently and on time"

Yesterday, 17:57

Russia to impose 35% duty on import of perfume, eau de toilette from unfriendly countries

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Earthquake of magnitude 6.2 strikes Istanbul

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Russia says its Marines routing Ukrainian units in Kursk Region village of Gornal

"The Marines are successfully forcing enemy units from key fortified positions in the area of the settlement," the statement reads

Yesterday, 11:22

Russian troops liberate Sukhaya Balka community in Donetsk region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 310 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

US can no longer serve as guarantor of Europe’s security — Pentagon chief

Pete Hegseth reiterated that the US will ask its NATO allies in Europe to increase their military spending to 5% of their GDP

Mi-28NM helicopter obliterates temporary base of Ukrainian troops in Kursk border region

"Before taking off, the crew received the coordinates of a temporary base of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk Region’s border zone," the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Yesterday, 10:00

Press review: Vatican adjusts after Pope’s death as Moscow eyes Afghan projects post-ban

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Putin's meeting with Witkoff may take place on April 25 — Axios

The Gulfstream G650 plane with the US special envoy on board is reportedly heading towards Russia from Paris

US outraged by Ukraine's refusal to recognize Crimea as Russian territory — newspaper

Washington is also unhappy that Kiev prefers "to discuss a complete ceasefire first and everything else later"

Fully domestically made SJ-100 plane makes maiden flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur

Certification tests are expected to be completed by the end of the year, and deliveries to Russian air carriers are to begin in 2026

Yesterday, 16:03

Kiev hits LPR with UAVs, trying to show importance before London talks — expert

Andrey Marochko suggested that Ukrainian forces might escalate their attacks on other frontline villages ahead of the forthcoming talks

Yesterday, 16:16

FACTBOX: What to know about explosion at Russia’s military unit

According to Governor Alexander Avdeyev, first responders are working at the scene of the explosion in the region’s Kirzhach District

Top diplomats from UK, France, Germany, Ukraine postpone meeting in London — TV

According to the broadcaster, discussions will instead take place among senior officials from the five nations

Russian forces move forward in Gornal after wedging in Ukrainian defenses — officer

According to the regiment commander with the call sign Apostol, Gornal is the last settlement in the Kursk Region that is being held by Ukraine

London meeting on Ukraine fails to happen due to disagreements in positions — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that the London meeting was supposed to give the US "an opportunity to continue its mediation efforts"

Yesterday, 14:41

Kremlin unaware about contents of Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine

According to Dmitry Peskov, Russia continues communication with the US through all available channels

Yesterday, 10:51

Russian army advances near Pokrovsk despite massive attacks by Ukrainian drones

According to military expert Vitaly Kiselev, the Russian troops are still making gains under these challenging conditions

London meeting on Ukraine involving foreign ministers postponed — British Foreign Office

"Official level talks will continue but these are closed to media," a Foreign Office official said

Africa tired of West’s arrogance, double standards — Russia’s ambassador to UN

Vasily Nebenzya added that Africans do not intend to put up with this state of affairs

Flight connection between Russia and Myanmar suspended

The flight connection was canceled due to low occupancy rates and an earthquake in Myanmar

Press review: Russia, Oman discuss key issues as US may probe Ukrainian war crimes

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Two days ago, 09:10

Houthis claim strikes on two US aircraft carrier groups

"Missile forces and drone units launched two cruise missiles and two drones at the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier and its associated ships in the northern part of the Red Sea," the movement said