OREANDA-NEWS. The RTS index fell by 5.4%, to 1072.01 points. This is evidenced by trading data on the Moscow Exchange as of 15:00 Moscow time. The Moscow Stock Exchange index fell 3.8%, to 2532.82 points.

Russian stocks are falling following the negative dynamics on world trading floors and a drop in oil prices. European exchanges and futures for US indices are trading in the red by more than 2% against the backdrop of negative forecasts for the world economic growth and the release of weak corporate reporting. Refinitiv analysts expect that the profits of the largest companies from the S&P 500 index will decrease by 12.3% in the first quarter and by 23.6% in the second.

The largest contribution to the fall of Russian indices made paper oil and gas sector. Investors fear that low prices for raw materials will reduce company profits. On Wednesday, Brent crude prices fell to $ 28 per barrel after the International Energy Agency published a forecast for oil demand this year. According to the IEA, the demand for raw materials in April will fall by 29 million barrels per day compared to last year. This level was last observed 25 years ago.

LUKOIL shares fell stronger than the rest, having fallen in price by 6.4%. Securities of Tatneft decreased by 5.8%, shares of Surgutneftegas - by 4.7%, shares of Rosneft - by 4.6%. Rostelecom shares (+ 0.4%) and Phosagro shares (+ 0.1%) are traded in positive territory.