FINAM - Daily Market Watch - Oct 9, 2009

Market Roundup Russian equities surged to YTD highs on Thursday on the back of global optimism, with the RTS Index climbing 3.7% and the MICEX Index advancing 4.3%. Amid a firming ruble the day's top gainers were banking stocks, as Sberbank rallied 6.4% and Bank VTB soared 7.2%. O&G plays traded up with the market, as Gazprom rose 2.7%, Lukoil surged 5.2%, Rosneft climbed 4.9% and Surgutneftegaz ended 3.3% higher. Steels lagged behind the market, with Severstal adding 1.5%, NLMK rising 1.1% and MMK advancing 0.9%. A rally on international stock exchanges continued Thursday after the release of better-than-expected initial job data from the US and upbeat statements by ECB officials who pointed to positive trends in the economy, saying they are prepared to keep interest rates low.