Investors are holding their own during the uprising in Russia

26.06.2023

Oil rose after falling nearly 4 percent last week, U.S. and European stock futures rose and Asian stocks were mixed as mainland Chinese exchanges opened after a long weekend amid worries about the country’s economic recovery. The dollar strength indicator was down 0.1 percent, while most major currencies traded in narrow ranges against the dollar. Gold rose slightly, but there was little sign of aggressive buying because of its safe haven quality.

While events in Russia may have spurred investors to sell risky assets, early moves were modest and reflected the impact of the deal that was struck to stop the Wagner mercenary group from advancing toward Moscow. The agreement included the dropping of criminal sedition charges against Yevgeny Prigozhin and his fighters.

Nonetheless, gas traders expected more market turmoil given the risks to supplies from Russia, with Europe already experiencing the highest volatility in gas prices since the invasion of Ukraine.

Shares of Russian aluminum producer United Co. Rusal International PJSC, which gives some indication of the country’s appetite for assets through securities traded in Hong Kong, fell 2.9 percent. The company’s shares have fallen this year amid a sharp decline in Hong Kong trading volumes. The ruble weakened on the Moscow Exchange.

But overall, barring commodities trading, Russia is largely cut off from global financial markets because of sanctions imposed after the invasion, which limited the impact on Monday.