RusEnergy

RBC, 26.02.2006, Moscow 12:14:38 - The Russian stock market opened on a steady upward trend in most securities. Oil-sector securities proved to be the top gainers. On MICEX, Surgutneftegas surged by 2.6 percent during the first few minutes of trade, and LUKoil added 1.5 percent. On the RTS stock exchange, Surgutneftegas soared 3.3 percent, LUKoil 2 percent, and Novatek 8.6 percent. The RTS index reached a level of 1,485.49 points in half an hour, up 1.36 percent on the opening rate. Specialists attribute the market's positive opening to the growth of Russian ADRs during the vacation of February 23 to 25. However, trader activity is expected to remain low in Russia, today being a day off on international exchanges.