Market Buzz: Investors not astir over Easter
Russian stocks are expected to stay in positive territory, hanging around the previous day’s level amid a lack of external drivers as major markets are closed for Easter holidays.
Russian markets closed in the black after a choppy session on Thursday. The MICEX gained 0.8% and the RTS added 0.64%. Shares of car maker Sollers (+7.38%), mining companies Belona (+2.44%) and OGK-3 (+1.87%) were among the gainers. Retailer Mvideo (+2.57%) also performed well amid positive annual results.European stock markets closed with moderate gains on Thursday after trading in negative territory for most of the day. The Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.1% and the French CAC 40 rose 0.2%, while the German DAX 40 shed 0.1% after lower than expected manufacturing data.Major European markets will also be closed on Friday and Monday for the Easter holidays.US closed with losses on Thursday amid renewed concern on the eurozone debt crisis, with the Dow Jones declining 0.1%. The S&P 500 fell nearly 1 point or less than 0.1%. Meanwhile the Nasdaq Composite added 0.4%. The US share markets will be closed for Good Friday. A report on nonfarm payrolls is expected later on Friday.Asian stocks traded lower Friday with Japanese shares burdened by a strengthening yen. Japan’s Nikkei Stock declined 0.5%, while South Korea’s Kospi traded 0.1% lower. Markets in Sydney and Hong Kong were closed for the Good Friday holiday.
