The mood on the world markets on Friday morning can be described as moderately positive. In Asia, the leading sites are adding within 0.6%. Futures on major US indices, after the multidirectional closure of sites in the US a day earlier, are losing about 0.1% this morning. The nearest Brent crude futures moved into a corrective decline yesterday, and this morning is consolidating below Thursday's closing levels, trading around $76.2 per barrel. It should be noted that the situation with the debt ceiling continues to be in the focus of investors' attention, determining their attitude to high-risk assets. The approach of a critical moment and information from the media about the preparation of plans in case an agreement is not reached, unnerves investors, holding back purchases. At the same time, in our opinion, an agreement, as in previous times, will be reached and the United States will be able to avoid default. In addition to this factor, during trading today, investors will pay attention to the publication of data on retail sales in the UK and orders for durable goods in the States.
By the end of Thursday, the Moscow Stock Exchange index fell by 0.2%, ending the day around 2,650 points. At the same time, yesterday at the start of trading, the Russian market was able to set new annual highs, but in the future sales in our shares prevailed, which led to compensation for the morning growth and the market going into "minus". Today, at the start of trading, the pressure on our market may persist, which will lead to the consolidation of the market below 2650 points. Despite the moderate positive observed in the morning on external platforms, the reason for sales may be a slight deterioration in the situation in oil prices. Plus, some of the bidders may switch to profit-taking on speculative long positions in Russian stocks ahead of the weekend. As a result, the Moscow Stock Exchange index may end the week under the upper limit of the range of 2600 – 2650 points. At the same time, it is worth noting that the growth scenario currently remains in force – all trends are directed upwards, and the first signal to cancel it may be a breakdown of support at the level of 2600 points.
On the currency section of the Moscow Stock Exchange this morning, the ruble is consolidating against major world currencies. So, by 9.10 Moscow time, the change in quotations of the dollar, euro and yuan does not exceed 0.1%, as a result of which they are trading around 80, 86 and 11.33 rubles, respectively. During the session, in our opinion, the continuation of the lateral movement of the ruble, which was observed in the last week, looks most likely. At the same time, the passage of the peak of tax payments and some deterioration in the situation in oil prices bear the risks of the ruble's transition to weakening. However, the approach of the weekend is likely to restrain the activity of sellers in the ruble, which will lead to continued consolidation of the national currency.
Bogdan Zvarich, Chief Analyst of the <url> financial platformThe "Comments" section of the AK&M news agency publishes materials submitted by Russian and foreign investment companies and banks. Their opinions may not coincide with the opinion of the editorial board of the AK&M agency. The opinions presented in the comments are expressed taking into account the situation at the time of the release of the material. The comments are for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an offer or advice on the purchase or sale of securities. For information placement in this section, you can contact the agency's editorial office by phone (499) 132-61-30 ext. 0102.
