The Russian Trading System index came 2.16% up to 565.77, scanty transactions making an approximate lump US$17.5 million.
The LUKoil had come 6.64% up by the session closing time, Yukos 5.94%, United Russian Power Grid 2.03%, Savings Bank 1.53%, Norilsk Nickel 1.23%, and Sibneft and Surgutneftegas less than 1% each. Mosenergo and Rostelecom were 0.70% and 0.71% down, respectively, as against closing time yesterday.
The LUKoil and United Russian Power Grid led the day to make close on a half of total sales and purchases, with 16 transactions to a lump $4.132 million and 19 to $4.508 million, respectively.
"Russian stock was expected to please the bulls today after a slump of the three preceding days. The forecast came true-but with small deals only," says Vadim Kotikov, NetTrader head analyst.
"Typical correction," Alexei Logvin, Interfintrade expert, comments the day's initial half. A part of dealers were closing their short-term positions to determine morning events. Afternoon deals went at a snail's pace with slack bids and token price changes, he says.
The Yukos plight is hampering the stock market, as before. The last weekday saw dealers apprehensive. They mostly chose to shut positions before weekend, remarked Olga Belenkaya, Olma analyst.
The cloud showed its silver lining, Friday morning, to encourage a rise, point out experts.
The LUKoil came up the highest of all with a rumour of the US-based Conoco Philips out for its 7.6% block, says Vadim Kotikov.
The Yukos made a speculative rise as the British Private Investors Consortium had offered to pay the petroleum mammoth's huge back taxes in exchange for its control block. Bids skyrocketed at the day's start only to go back down throughout the session, says Alexei Logvin.
Olga Belenkaya highlights overseas influences-US indices slightly rising yesterday, petroleum prices increasing worldwide, and ADR positive correction.
The Gasprom has issued Eurobonds at 7.25% rates, for a term of 15 and a half years, to make Friday's biggest corporate sensation, says Kotikov.
He stresses vague prospects persisting in the Russian market. Nevertheless, the expert is fairly optimistic. He does not think Russian stock is for a major depression even if things take the worst of all possible turns. Overseas bidders will certainly not quit for long, reassures the expert-Russian macroeconomic developments are staying beneficial to make the country very attractive. Portfolio investors will surely not think the Yukos controversy determines the entire market.
