* Russian stocks down, ahead of key U.S. data
* Softer oil price drags down rouble
* Sberbank boosted by H1 profit numbers
By John Bowker
MOSCOW, July 6 (Reuters) - Russian stocks and the rouble weakened on Friday
on growing concerns about the world economic outlook and unnerved by a drop in
the oil price.
Investors were rattled as the price of oil, Russia's chief export, fell more
than $1 to below $100 a barrel on world markets, reflecting worries that the
global economy is slowing and demand for oil will ease.
The rouble-traded MICEX index was down 1.1 percent to 1420.0 at 0907
GMT, extending a similar decline the previous session, while the dollar-based
RTS was off 1.2 percent to 1371.
The market was awaiting U.S. non-farm payrolls data due later in the session
for further clues on the state of the world's biggest economy.
"Investors will start this morning with a cautious stance while waiting for
the biggest US economic data point of the month, the non-farm payrolls report,"
said Chris Weafer, chief strategist at Moscow-based Troika Dialog.
"A bad number will send all markets lower, while a better-than-expected
number will send investors into the weekend with a lot more optimism for a
summer equity market rally," he said.
Domestic investors were focused on banking shares, with VTB
falling 1.5 percent, adding to a 2.75 percent slide the previous session after
the bank's first-quarter results disappointed the market.
Larger rival Sberbank gained 0.7 percent after posting a 7 percent
rise in first-half profit by Russian accounting standards - used by analysts as
a rough guide to internationally recognised earnings.
The rouble shed 0.3 percent against the dollar to stand at
$32.62 and 0.3 percent versus the euro to 40.41, declining at the
same pace to 40.41 against the euro-dollar basket.
