RTS Index Closes at 955.34 Points as Oil Slide Drives 2.79% Drop
Published on 11/02/2026 at 23:10 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSRTS Index Closes Lower
- The dollar-denominated RTS Index fell 2.79% to 955.34 points at the close of the main Moscow Exchange session on November 2, 2026.
- Falling oil prices and profit-taking pressured Russian equities, while a weaker ruble partly cushioned exporters.
- Market attention remains focused on oil prices, geopolitical developments and the outlook for renewed Russia-Ukraine negotiations.
The dollar-denominated RTS Index ended the main Moscow Exchange session at 955.34 points on Monday, November 2, 2026, down 2.79%. The decline followed a weaker session for Russian equities as investors reacted to falling oil prices, took profits after October's gains and reassessed the geopolitical outlook.
TASS reported the RTS Index close and said falling oil prices prompted profit-taking. According to the report, the ruble's weakening helped cushion the decline in exporter shares. TASS also cited pressure in several large stocks, including PhosAgro, Rusal, Tatneft and Inter RAO.
Oil And Geopolitical Uncertainty Weigh
Vedomosti linked the market decline to weaker oil prices and rising geopolitical uncertainty. The publication reported that Brent futures fell 5% to 105.9 US dollars per barrel, while uncertainty over the timing of renewed negotiations on the Ukraine conflict encouraged investors to lock in gains. It also noted that expectations for a diplomatic resolution in the Middle East contributed to the decline in oil prices.
The session also included company-specific pressure. TASS said Rusal's shares fell after the publication of weak Russian Accounting Standards results for the first nine months of 2026. The company's net profit dropped from 193 billion rubles to 635.7 million rubles, while sales moved to a loss of 2.45 billion rubles from a profit of 161.4 billion rubles a year earlier, according to the report.
Focus Turns To The Next Session
For the next trading session, market direction is likely to remain sensitive to oil prices, ruble movements and fresh geopolitical headlines. TASS cited expectations for the broader MOEX Russia Index to trade between 2,420 and 2,490 points on Tuesday, while noting that continued oil weakness could push the benchmark toward 2,400 points. Those projections concern the ruble-denominated MOEX index rather than the RTS Index and are therefore not a direct target for the dollar-denominated benchmark.
Investors following the RTS Index should distinguish the reported main-session close from later or separate market indications. Further moves will depend on the next confirmed index level and on whether developments around Ukraine-related negotiations alter risk appetite. More RTS Index coverage is available on the RTS Index topic page.
