Net gold and foreign exchange reserves of the National Bank of Kazakhstan in current prices totaled $13,857.2 m. as ofMay 15, 2006

/IRBIS, Natalya Kuznetsova, May 17, 06/ - The National Bank of Kazakhstan spread press release, which says, that net international reserves (GFER) of the National bank excluding money of the National Fund of the Republic of Kazakhstan in current prices grew during the first half of May 0f 2006 by 11.8% and totaled $13,857.2 m. Press release notes, that currency purchasing by the National Bank in domestic currency market and currency coming on accounts of the Government, even in conditions of making transactions on replenishment of assets of the National Fund and servicing of external debt of the Ministry of Finance brought to growth of net currency reserves by $1,292.6 m. Assets in gold increased by $168.3 m. as a result of increasing of its price in the world markets by 13.7%. The country's international reserves as a whole (in current prices), i.e. including money of the National Fund (by preliminary data $8,631.6 m.), increased relative to the previous month by 7.4% and made $22,492.0 m. as of May 15 of the current year. Growth of net international reserves of the National Bank in the first half of May of 2006 caused broadening of monetary base by 10.4% or by KZT103.2 bn. Below are data about the dynamics of the National Bank's international reserves and monetary base (current prices) given. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- as of as of as of Indicator May 15, 06 Apr 28, 06 Apr 14, 06 ---------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net international reserves, $m 13,857.2 12,396.2 11,833.9 including: net assets in hard currency* 12,461.6 11,168.9 10,626.2 gold 1,395.6 1,227.3 1,207.7 Monetary base, KZT bn. 1,095.9 992.7 1,013.0 KZT/USD (at the end of the period) 121.75 124.11 128.45 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- * specified data ** net assets in hard currency is the difference between gross assets and liabilities in hard currency [2006-05-17]