Russia's natural-gas monopoly OAO Gazpromisn't considering a buyback of its
own shares to support the market price, its Chief Executive Alexei Miller said
Friday.
Gazprom shares have lost about 13% since the start of the
year, performing worse than the wider stock market index.
Miller also said that the company's management is considering a dividend payout
increase to 25% of the company's net profit, as has been suggested by the
President Vladimir Putin for all state-controlled firms.
"If such decision is taken, we will comply," Miller said at a
televised press conference after the company's annual shareholders' meeting.