“Nornickel” and UC Rusal have fixed metal prices for Russian consumers, and the Central Bank denies a hacker hack of its systems – these and other important news for the morning of Thursday, March 24, in our daily review.

The international group Anonymous has claimed that the Russian Central Bank has been hacked. The hackers claim to have gained access to more than 35,000 files and promise to publish them within 48 hours. The Central Bank denies that its systems have been hacked, TASS reports. “The Bank of Russia denies information about a possible hacking of any of its information systems,” the Central Bank’s press service said.

“Nornickel and UC Rusal have fixed prices for nickel and aluminum at the level of average rates of February. This is reported by RBC with reference to the Vice President – Head of Sales and Commerce of Nornickel Anton Berlin and the press service of UC Rusal. Against the backdrop of price volatility on the world market, the Ministry of Industry and Trade gave a recommendation to metal producers to fix prices for Russian consumers.

The oil company LUKOIL has acquired 100% of LLC “TK EKA”, which owns a network of gas stations and car washes in Moscow and the Moscow region, writes “Kommersant” with reference to the data of “SPARK-Interfax”. LUKOIL also bought 100% of EKA-Processing. The amount of the transactions is not disclosed.

Rosaviatsia has extended the restriction on flights to airports of 11 cities in southern Russia until April 1, TASS reports citing a statement by the agency. “Until April 1, 2022 03:45 Moscow time, the regime of temporary restriction of flights to the Russian airports of Anapa, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Gelendzhik, Krasnodar, Kursk, Lipetsk, Rostov-on-Don, Simferopol and Elista has been extended,” the department’s statement reads.

Indian private oil refining company Nayara Energy has purchased about 1.8 million barrels of Russian Urals crude from Singapore-based transnational exchange company Trafigura, The Economic Times reported. According to the newspaper, the oil will be delivered in two stages – March 30 and April 17.