Russian Stocks, Ruble Gain Second Day on Crude at $74 a Barrel

Russian stocks posted their biggest two-day gain in almost a year and the ruble climbed for a second day as oil rebounded, boosting the outlook for the world’s biggest energy exporter.

VTB Group, Russia’s second-biggest lender, rose 5.2 percent, and OAO Rosneft, the nation’s largest oil producer, advanced 4.2 percent, leading the 30-stock Micex Index 3.2 percent higher to 1,305.99 at the close in Moscow. The gauge has surged 9 percent in the past two days, its biggest advance since June 1. The ruble strengthened 1.2 percent to 30.8175 versus the dollar.