Russia's stock market has been falling because Putin is more concerned with acquiring more buffer countries than he is about how it will affect Russia economically. Near term and long term this could mean that Russian companies will not be able to sell their goods on the world market, which has made up a large part of their profits. In addition to that, many foreign companies, such as many American and European high tech companies, which were in the process of making investments in Russia, have now put those investments on hold.
The Russian stock market has been falling, and now people are starting to take notice and decide that the Russian stock market weakness is going to continue and so the RUSS is starting to climb. In the after hour trading today, which lasts for one hour after the market closes, The RUSS shares
climbed, even after their strong gain during regular trading hours. That hasn't been the case recently.
Close or regular hours trading: 18.80+1.70 (+9.94%)
After hours trading: 19.19 +0.39 (+2.07%)
Of course, when regular trading starts again in the morning, the stock could open lower than todays close rather than higher, but over the long term it could continue moving up and surpass the +$26 that was reached just over four weeks ago. That would be around a 45% rise from its present price.