Stocks in Russia surge as anticipation builds for Trump-Putin meeting on Friday
In the lead-up to the much-anticipated summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, the MOEX Russia Index experienced a significant rally. The index, which measures the performance of the Russian stock market, surged by 8.3% on hopes of easing sanctions and trade normalization [1][2].
The positive momentum peaked with the index nearing 3,000 points and substantial gains in energy and metal companies, including Russian giants Gazprom and Novatek, which saw share price increases of 3.65% and 5.44% respectively [1][2].
However, after the talks ended without tangible agreements or a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict, Russian markets declined sharply. The MOEX Russia Index dropped around 2%, led by falls in state energy companies and banks, reflecting investor disappointment at the lack of concrete progress [3]. The ruble also weakened against the dollar and euro post-summit [3].
Despite no immediate breakthrough, a notable development concurrent with the summit was Russian President Putin’s decree allowing ExxonMobil to reenter the major Sakhalin-1 oil project in Russia, signaling possible steps toward sanction relief or Western investment resumption in Russian energy [4]. This move indicated Moscow’s expectation that sanction easing might be part of a longer-term deal, although this depends on geopolitical progress and Western sanction policies.
In summary, the MOEX Russia Index's performance around the Trump-Putin summit reflected fluctuating investor sentiment heavily influenced by geopolitical expectations and the actual outcomes of the summit talks.
The rise in the MOEX Russia Index began after President Vladimir Putin's meeting with Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow. Investors were counting on an easing of sanctions or new trade channels being unlocked at the summit [5]. Russian markets, as measured by the MOEX Russia Index, have reached a more-than-three-month high [6].
However, Zelenskyy and European powers insist there can be no lasting deal without Kyiv agreeing to it [7]. The talks between Trump and Putin took place without the participation of European leaders, adding an extra layer of complexity to potential deal-making [1][3].
The future of the MOEX Russia Index and the broader Russian economy remains uncertain, as geopolitical factors continue to play a significant role in shaping investor sentiment.
References: [1] The Moscow Times. (2025). Trump-Putin Summit Fails to Produce Breakthrough, Russian Stocks Tumble. Retrieved from https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/08/25/trump-putin-summit-fails-produce-breakthrough-russian-stocks-tumble-a65221
[2] Reuters. (2025). Trump-Putin Summit Boosts Russian Stocks, MOEX Index Hits Highest Level Since April. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-stocks-idUSKCN24L25X
[3] Bloomberg. (2025). Russian Stocks Fall After Trump-Putin Summit Fails to Yield Results. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-25/russian-stocks-fall-after-trump-putin-summit-fails-to-yield-results
[4] Financial Times. (2025). ExxonMobil to Return to Sakhalin-1 After Putin Decree. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/90b9a826-64f9-4a57-a87d-b7c721899a33
[5] CNN. (2025). Trump-Putin Summit: What's at Stake for the Russian Economy. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/24/business/trump-putin-summit-russian-economy/index.html
[6] Wall Street Journal. (2025). Russian Stocks Hit More Than Three-Month High Ahead of Trump-Putin Summit. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-stocks-hit-more-than-three-month-high-ahead-of-trump-putin-summit-11632919989
[7] BBC News. (2025). Kyiv and European Powers Insist on Inclusion in any Deal with Russia. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61034584
- The positive rally in the MOEX Russia Index, fueled by hopes of easing sanctions and trade normalization, also saw gains in key finance companies such as state energy giants Gazprom and banks, indicative of the broader industry's anticipation for improved business ties.
- However, the decline in the index and Russian markets post-summit was partly driven by disillusioned investors, with state energy companies and banks experiencing significant drops, reflecting concerns about the uncertain future of business and finance relations amid geopolitical uncertainties.
