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Russian stocks up as main trading session opens, yuan surpasses 11.5 rubles

As of 10:24 a.m. Moscow time, the indices were up by 1.37% at 2,790.77 points and at 1,098.53 points, respectively

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. Russia’s stock market went up as the main trading session started on Friday as the MOEX and RTS indices added 0.95% to 2,779.13 points and 1,093.94 points, respectively, according to trading data as of 10:00 a.m. Moscow time (07:00 a.m. GMT). The yuan exchange rate against the ruble gained 7.45 kopecks as trading opened compared with previous closing to 11.426 rubles. By 10:09 a.m. Moscow time (07:09 a.m. GMT), the yuan had surpassed 11.5 rubles for the first time since October 22, 2025, having risen to 11.509 rubles (+15.7 rubles).

As of 10:24 a.m. Moscow time (07:24 a.m. GMT), the indices were up by 1.37% at 2,790.77 points and at 1,098.53 points, respectively. Meanwhile the yuan exchange rate was up by 15.3 kopecks at 11.505 rubles.

The MOEX Index with additional IMOEX2 ticker added 0.58% as morning trading session started on the Moscow Exchange as of 7:00 a.m. Moscow time (4:00 a.m. GMT), reaching 2,769.12 points.

Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin

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The MOEX and RTS indices were up by 1.12% at 2,783.67 and 1,095.85 points, respectively

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Further funding for Ukraine risks prolonging conflict with Russia, Hungarian PM warns

Viktor Orban also pointed out that the idea of a Russian asset seizure was dead because talks on the issue "have stalled"

Europe will have to reopen dialogue with Russia — Macron

The French president believes that "Europeans and Ukrainians, will have to find the right framework to re-engage in this discussion in a proper manner"

Kremlin warns about consequences for masterminds, perpetrators of Russian asset seizure

"Those who made decisions collectively, those who made decisions individually and those who put them into practice will all bear responsibility," Dmitry Peskov said

Putin to sum up 'Results of the Year'

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Russia, Africa working to increase number of intergovernmental commissions

19 such commissions are already operational

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Russian stock market indices mixed on Thursday — market data

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Intelligence services remain ‘almost sole’ link between Russia, Europe — SVR

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Alexander Stepanov noted that established industrial production would make it possible to make tens and even hundreds of items per year to provide strategic coverage for all critical areas and facilities in the Russian border regions

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Ukrainian soldiers’ morale collapses after corruption scandal — SVR

According to the report, an increasing number of newly mobilized troops are deserting their positions, unwilling to risk

Bank of Russia refrains from naming foreign banks it plans to sue

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Russia’s Safonov makes football goalkeeping history in French PSG FIFA championship win

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Lukashenko says he is ‘outgoing’ president

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EU elites put stake on anti-Russian policy — Russian intelligence chief

Sergey Naryshkin noted that leaders of certain European countries are "in a dangerous situation"

'Political stumble' for Merz, von der Leyen, as EU fails to seize Russian assets — NYT

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EU summit communique makes no mention of Russian assets, meeting continues

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Russia hopes Serbia stands by national interests, not West's lies — SVR chief

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Russia alarmed by worsening humanitarian situation in Syria — UN mission

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Kremlin gets set to be briefed by US on talks with Ukraine, EU

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Durov compares UK’s future to dystopian thriller

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First NPP in Belarus significantly strengthened country’s energy security — Lukashenko

The Belarusian leader stressed that energy was the guarantor of economic development and a matter of national self-sufficiency

US relations thaw proving difficult — Russian diplomat

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Maduro vows full effort to protect Venezuela’s sovereignty under any circumstances

The Venezuelan president stated that the United States is seeking a regime change in the Bolivarian Republic "to impose a puppet government that will turn the country with its natural resources into a colony"

Zelensky cannot withdraw troops from Donbass due to nationalist resistance — opposition

Viktor Medvedchuk noted that Western media outlets consistently report significant pressure from Washington on Kiev and Europe regarding this issue

EU leaders looking for ways to finance Ukraine, but Hungary will not support them — Orban

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Russian president Putin starts year-end Q&A session

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Russian troops strike Ukrainian army’s energy infrastructure over past day

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EU fixated on idea of stealing Russia's money to continue war in Ukraine — Kremlin

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Maria Zakharova stated that such pseudo-peacekeepers would become legitimate targets for the Russian army

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The Russian company transferred its 10% participation interest to ADNOC

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EU diplomats do not rule out retaliation against Ukrainian elites by angry mob — SVR

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Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia refuse to finance Kiev — EU summit statement

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TikTok signs deal to sell its US business — Axios

Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX will collectively own 45% of the US entity, nearly one-third of the company will be held by affiliates of existing ByteDance investors, and nearly 20% will be retained by ByteDance

Beijing vows decisive response to $11 bln US arms sale to Taiwan

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Washington's main concert complex to be renamed in honor of Trump and Kennedy

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Desertion in Ukrainian armed forces grows — Russian intelligence chief

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Kiev and Europe try to disown compromises of Trump plan, Naryshkin says

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Russia ready to restore intergovernmental trade commission with Slovakia

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UK 'co-running war' in Ukraine — former French military officer

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Russia’s Intelligence Service likens declared unity of West to chimera

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Dmitriev calls for resignation of Merz, von der Leyen after failure at EU summit

The Chief Executive Officer of Russian Direct Investment Fund added that Friedrich Merz and Ursula von der Leyen "spent all their political capital, promised results – and delivered a spectacular failure"

US actions in Venezuela display Washington's neocolonial approach — Russia’s UN envoy

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FACTBOX: S-500 Anti-Aircraft Missile System

The system is being developed with the capability to be operational for the next 25 years

Press review: Trump seeks to pressure Moscow as EU desperate to find funds for Ukraine

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, December 18th

New US security strategy rightly America first — Russian intel chief

Sergey Naryshkin noted that "there are clear tendencies toward isolationism, which US President Donald Trump and US Vice President JD Vance do not hide"

Russian intel chief reveals recent extended call with MI6 director

Sergey Naryshkin said the phone conversation was held "just a few days ago"

FACTBOX: Drone hits Lipetsk, cuts power in Rostov-on-Don after Ukrainian overnight attack

Power outages occurred in Rostov-on-Don and two districts of the Rostov Region

EU cannot continue proxy war against Russia due to financial problems — Chinese expert

Wang Yiwei said the idea of using frozen assets for military purposes "effectively exposes the hypocrisy of the EU"

Special customs regime will make Hainan a development leader — expert

Deputy Director of the Swedish Belt and Road Institute noted that the launch of such a regime shows a firm commitment to expanding openness

EU to issue 90 billion euro in interest-free loan to Kiev — Merz

The German Chancellor said that "the Russian frozen assets will remain blocked until Russia has paid reparations to Ukraine"

Fico highlights need for compromise at European Council

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico repeatedly said that he would refuse to vote for any support for Ukraine's military needs at the summit

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Dmitry Peskov recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro spoke on the phone on December 11

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Inevitable Ukrainian surrender to make peace talk much easier — SVR

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Zelensky admits Biden told him Ukraine would not be brought in to NATO before conflict

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Trump signs defense budget worth $901 billion — White House

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Hungary 'absolutely ready' to host Russia-US summit — top diplomat

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Cessna 550 business jet crashes in US with victims — TV

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Putin’s Direct Line Q&A to take place on December 19

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ECB will not support loan mechanism for Ukraine breaching EU laws — Lagarde

Article 123 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union prevents the ECB from printing money explicitly to finance government spending