Russia · Country watch

Moscow Index Rises, Central Bank Adjusts Rates

Moscow Exchange index rises on sanction easing hopes; Central Bank adjusts currency rates, impacting finance and trade sectors.

Florent Kalfon · 28 October 2026 · 13 articles read

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Business conditions in Russia show mixed signals: the Moscow Exchange index rises on hopes of sanction easing, while the Central Bank adjusts currency rates. This impacts finance and trade sectors, with a positive outlook for equity investors but challenges for importers and exporters adjusting to new rates.

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In this briefing Lukoil · UK Treasury · Moscow Exchange · Brent Crude · Bank of Russia

Regulation

Energy

UK Extends Sanction Exemption for Lukoil's Bulgarian Entities

The UK has extended the license allowing operations with Bulgarian entities of Russian oil and gas company Lukoil until February 26 next year, according to a document from the UK Treasury reported by RIA. This extension permits continued transactions despite broader sanctions against Russian firms.

Impact Lukoil and its partners in Bulgaria benefit from continued operational freedom under the extended UK sanction exemption.

Sources: RIA ↗

Markets

Finance

Moscow Exchange Index Rises on Sanction Easing Hopes

The Moscow Exchange index rose by 1.2% at the start of the main session, driven by expectations of resumed Ukraine negotiations in November and potential easing of US sanctions, according to Interfax. The rise is also supported by increasing oil prices, with December Brent futures exceeding $115.5 per barrel due to Middle East tensions.

Impact Investors in Russian equities see positive sentiment as the Moscow Exchange index rises on hopes of sanction easing.

Sources: interfax ↗

Finance

Central Bank of Russia Adjusts Dollar, Euro Rates

The Bank of Russia has set the official dollar exchange rate at 80.87 rubles for October 29, and adjusted the euro rate by 6.83 kopecks to 90.166 rubles, Tass reports. These adjustments reflect ongoing currency market dynamics and the Central Bank's monetary policy.

Impact Importers and exporters dealing in USD and EUR face adjusted exchange rates, affecting pricing and contracts.

Sources: Tass ↗

Nothing significant reported today in Disruption · Internal tension · Safety & health · Companies · Trade · Politics.