MOSCOW, August 7. /TASS/. The benchmark Moscow Exchange (MOEX) Index slid 0.2% to close Friday's main trading session at 2,281.31 points, while the dollar-denominated RTS Index shed 1.12% to end at 874.64 points. The yuan edged up by 0.16 rubles to 12.24 rubles.

"The MOEX Index attempted to consolidate above the 2,300-point mark on Friday but spent most of the day trading below this level. The upcoming weekend, lack of progress regarding the resumption of negotiations on Ukraine, and declining oil prices triggered the cautious sentiment. Meanwhile, the weaker ruble sustained interest in exporters' equities, and market liquidity could soon be supported by dividend reinvestments," said Andrey Smirnov, a stock market expert at BCS World of Investments.

"Pharmsintez shares (+3.6%) gained ground, likely buoyed by the release of its first-half 2026 financial statements under Russian Accounting Standards (RAS) and expectations of improved year-end financial performance," noted Natalia Milchakova, lead analyst at Freedom Global.

According to her, Eurotrans shares (-6.1%) led the declines, falling for the fourth consecutive session amid growing market anxieties over a potential bond default.

Analysts at BCS World of Investments believe near-term market performance will remain highly dependent on the news flow. Should positive geopolitical expectations materialize, the MOEX Index could well break and hold above 2,300 points. The brokerage forecasts the ruble to trade within the ranges of 80.5-82.5 per dollar and 11.95-12.25 per yuan next week.

Freedom Global projects the MOEX Index to fluctuate between 2,250 and 2,350 points on Monday. Its currency forecast stands at 80-82 rubles per dollar, 93-95 rubles per euro, and 11.9-12.3 rubles per yuan.