Around the World's Markets: Moscow

SHARE PRICES in Russia closed sharply lower as investors continued to shun equities despite government efforts to bring order to its finances and shift the focus of its borrowing away from the depressed domestic market.

The main RTS index closed at 137.88, down 3.8 per cent and just points off a previous two-year low set last month. Traders said domestic considerations in general and the persistently high yields on government bonds in particular, are continuing to impact stock prices.