MOSCOW--Russia's benchmark stock index Micex rallied to an all-time high on Thursday. The ruble-traded Micex hit 1976.69 in early trade on the Moscow exchange, gaining 0.84% on the day, before retreating toward Wednesday's close. Demand for Russian stocks, primarily state-controlled blue chips, spiked this week after the government signed a decree that requires state-run companies to pay no less than 50% of their net profit in dividends.
