MOSCOW: Russia's Saint-Petersburg Exchange plans to add shares in 52 of the most liquid German companies to its trading platform in August, the bourse said on Monday.

Russia's second-largest exchange saw trading volumes of foreign securities, in which it specialises, hit a record high during the lockdown imposed in late March to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Declining bank deposit rates due to the central bank cutting its key rate three times this year to 4.5% have also encouraged people to invest in securities.

"German shares have not yet been put into circulation, the exact date of the start of trading will be determined later, but we plan to launch some European shares in August," a representative of the exchange told Reuters.

The list of securities to be added is currently made up entirely of German companies, but the exchange said it could be expanded to include other European shares.