Russian stock indexes rose strongly on Thursday after the European Commission published a new list of individuals and companies subject to sanctions over Ukraine which spared major listed companies.
Analysts warned, however, that further EU sanctions expected to be announced later on Thursday could deflate the market mood.
At 10:00 a.m., the dollar-denominated RTS index was up 1.5 percent to 1,241 points, while the ruble-based MICEX rose 1 percent to 1,395 points.
The sanctions list published by the European Commission late on Wednesday included some associates of President Vladimir Putin as well as three companies, none of which are listed on the stock exchange.
Analysts said relief over the limited scope of EU sanctions so far may be misplaced as further measures targeting key sectors of the Russian economy are expected on Thursday.
"Today's release of the texts of the EU Regulation on sectoral sanctions is the key item to watch in order to assess their scope," VTB Capital analysts said in a morning note.
Analysts said one of the major issues for the stock market is whether the EU sanctions will include Sberbank, Russia's largest bank and one of its major listed companies.
"The key question for the market is whether Sberbank is on the list as investors are certain about the inclusion of VTB after the U.S. declared sanctions on it," analysts at UralSib said in a morning note.
On Tuesday the EU reached agreement on sanctions that will shut major Russian banks out of European capital markets, but it has yet to say which banks will be impacted.
Sberbank shares were up 1 percent on Thursday morning, in line with the MICEX index.
Shares in VTB, Russia's other major listed bank, underperformed with a rise of 0.4 percent, having fallen on Wednesday after the U.S. sanctions.
The ruble was 0.4 percent stronger against the dollar at 35.43.
It had gained 0.5 percent to 47.44 against the euro and 0.5 percent to 40.83 against the dollar-euro basket.
See also:
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.
