Long-distance carrier Rostelecom and the preferred shares of coal and steel producer Mechel slumped on Tuesday after they were not included in MSCI's Russia index Monday.
Rostelecom's stock dropped 7.1 percent to 165.31 rubles ($5.90) by the 6:45 p.m. close in Moscow, snapping a seven-day winning streak. Mechel's preferred shares retreated 4.8 percent to 421.74 rubles.
The overall MICEX index closed at 1608.66, down less than 1 percent.
Brokerages including Renaissance Capital, UralSib Financial, Alfa Bank and Citigroup had forecast that the shares would be included in MSCI's semiannual review.
Luis Saenz, the London-based director of international sales at brokerage Otkritie Securities, said Rostelecom's exclusion was a "surprise" and the company is a "firm sell today." "Mechel preference shares were very much a consensus inclusion and the favorite pick of a number of banks," Saenz said in e-mailed comments Tuesday.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.