Russian stocks surged by 6.6% at the Moscow Exchange following a phone call between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. The market opened with a significant increase, building on the positive momentum from the previous day. The RTS and MOEX indices quickly rose by 6.6% within the first minute of trading, with the MOEX index reaching 3,224.38 points and the RTS at 1,080.03. As the morning progressed, the MOEX index settled at 3,148.14 points, and the RTS at 1,057.31.

Reports indicated that the total market capitalization of Russian stocks, as reflected by the MOEX index, reached 7.05 trillion rubles ($82.9 billion) by 9:00 a.m., representing an increase of 0.5 trillion rubles ($5.5 billion) since the previous trading session. Notable Russian companies experienced substantial gains, with Novatek leading at 9.6%, followed by Gazprom at 8.4%, Rostelecom at 8.2%, Aeroflot at 8.2%, Rosneft at 7.6%, Sberbank at 7.5%, and Lukoil at 6.9%.

Simultaneously, the U.S. dollar depreciated to 89 rubles on the Forex market, marking its lowest level since September 2024. Experts in the financial sector attributed the market rally to a resurgence of “geopolitical optimism” following the Putin-Trump dialogue. Ekaterina Krylova, a managing expert at the PSB Analytics and Expertise Center, highlighted this renewed optimism. Yaroslav Kabakov, the strategy director at Finam, emphasized the positive impact of discussions surrounding a potential resolution in Ukraine and Trump’s remarks on pursuing a peaceful settlement.

Analysts foresee a positive outlook for international transactions, particularly benefiting export-oriented companies. The prospect of de-escalation in geopolitical tensions has instilled confidence among investors, leading to a bullish market sentiment. The conversation between Trump and Putin, which signaled a willingness to initiate negotiations promptly to address the conflict in Ukraine, has been perceived as a significant step towards potential stability in the region.

Overall, the market reaction to the Putin-Trump call has demonstrated the interconnectedness of geopolitical events and financial markets, underscoring the importance of diplomatic relations in shaping investor confidence and market dynamics. The positive response from both Russian and international markets underscores the significance of political developments in influencing economic landscapes and investor behavior.