Moscow, Feb 21, 2026, 11:54 (MSK) — Regular session
Moscow Exchange shares ticked up roughly 0.2% to 181.61 roubles at 11:54 MSK this Saturday during the exchange’s weekend session. Friday’s close marked 181.22 roubles. On Saturday, trading has ranged from 181.22 to 181.73, according to Investing.com data.
The exchange announced Friday it will add two more ETFs—SBMX and AMRE, managed by Pervaya and Aton Management—to its roster of weekend trading from Feb. 21, bumping the total available to 287. This move extends a weekend trading format that first appeared in March 2025. Trading hours for the weekend session are set from 09:50 to 19:00 MSK. Prices can move within a 3% band, and market makers handle liquidity. The exchange’s press service reported weekend sessions have already drawn over 2 million participants, with turnover topping 708.8 billion roubles.
MOEX’s share price is tied to this pickup, since the exchange earns fees from both trading and clearing. Lately, it’s been relying on retail participation to sustain volumes. The weekend market is still a fraction of regular sessions, but with many investors on the sidelines, it stands out as one of the exchange’s limited growth drivers.
The MOEX Index climbed 0.28% Friday, closing at 2,780.6, with the RTS index just edging up 0.14%. TASS noted the yuan-to-rouble rate finished the day at 11.11. Alexander Shepelev from BCS World of Investments pointed to the drag from geopolitical tensions and the looming weekend, but said sentiment got a lift as EU officials remained divided on fresh sanctions—talks are set to continue. Looking ahead to the session after the Feb. 23 holiday, BCS put MOEX in a 2,720-2,820 range; Freedom Finance Global saw 2,700-2,800.
Analysts flagged a lack of strong market drivers. “Investors are not inclined to take risks before long holidays,” said Alexei Kalachev at Finam, according to a note cited by RIA. Alexander Dudnikov of Cifra Broker commented that the index hovered in a narrow band between 2,750 and 2,800—right around its 50-day moving average, a level many traders track. Brent crude slipped roughly 0.3% to $71.46 per barrel during the session, the report added. InvestFuture
Shares in Moscow Exchange have dropped 24.11% year-on-year, according to Interfax data. The firm paid out 26.11 roubles per share in dividends for 2024, but there’s nothing on the books yet for 2025.
Still, weekend moves tend to be noisy. With thinner volumes, a jolt in oil or the rouble could quickly drain risk appetite, pulling trading activity lower.
Eyes turn to the exchange’s February trading volume update, landing March 2, seen as a key signal for fee momentum heading into spring. The company has lined up a full-year 2025 results call and webcast under IFRS—those are expected later this March.
