In 2008 the volume of trades in foreign currencies on KASE increased in the dollar equivalent by 51.9 % and reached $138.874.0 m.

/KASE, January 8, 09/ - In 2008, the volume of trades in foreign currencies on Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), including currency swap transactions, made up the equivalent of $138,874.0 m. and increased relative to 2007 by $47,452.3 m. or 51.9 %. Given this the KASE exchange currency floor turnover increased by 49.2 % and reached the equivalent of KZT16,709.3 bn. Due to the launching from December 29, 2008 of the currency swap transactions market KASE starts using from January 1, 2009 when publishing its trading statistics two indicators - the trades volume (this indicator is th e new one and reflects the total gross-volume of deals) and the exchange (calculated) turnover (the traditional indicator and has been published previously). On foreign currencies market these indicator may differ when opening and/or closing in the reporting period of currency swap transactions. When executing such transactions in the exchange market sector, specially opened for these purposes, in the trades volume are included only volumes of currency swap transactions opening deals (at money borrowing amounts). When calculating the exchange (calculated) turnover are considered volumes (in KZT with further re-calculation into USD equivalent) of all satisfied such transactions opening and closing deals; at this only those deals arte considered which fall to the reporting period. Also, KASE intends to use the described methodological approach to the repo transactions trading statistics. The table below shows foreign currencies market indicators on KASE in 2008 with the break down by month, currency and deals type and comparative data of 2007. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trades volume Exchange -------------------------- ------- -------- --------- (calculated) on spot market turnover ------------------ ----------- ------ ------- on swap sub-tot. sub-tot. Month th. th. th. market bn. m. bn. m. USD EUR RUB th. USD KZT USD KZT USD --------- ----------- ------ ------- ------- -------- --------- -------- --------- I 4,653,115 1,500 18,500 Х 560.4 4,656.1 560.4 4,656.1 II 5,619,210 0 53,600 Х 676.6 5,621.4 676.6 5,621.4 III 6,129,440 500 67,400 Х 740.0 6,133.1 740.0 6,133.1 IV 8,139,700 1,500 40,500 Х 981.2 8,143.8 981.2 8,143.8 V 5,872,765 0 33,800 Х 708.3 5,874.2 708.3 5,874.2 VI 8,350,500 1,810 31,200 Х 1,008.6 8,354.6 1,008.6 8,354.6 VII 9,478,160 1,545 77,100 Х 1,141.3 9,483.9 1,141.3 9,483.9 VIII 12,388,870 1,010 56,000 Х 1,486.2 12,392.7 1,486.2 12,392.7 IX 17,372,195 1,515 66,000 Х 2,079.7 17,377.0 2,079.7 17,377.0 X 12,268,670 1,550 59,400 Х 1,471.4 12,273.0 1,471.4 12,273.0 XI 12,308,975 10 43,100 Х 1,478.9 12,310.6 1,478.9 12,310.6 XII 36,246,260 1,010 29,000 5,000 4,376.0 36,253.7 4,376.6 36,258.7 --------- ----------- ------ ------- ------- -------- --------- -------- --------- Sub-total 138,827,860 10,940 546,600 5,000 16,708.7 138,874.0 16,709.3 138,879.0 --------- ----------- ------ ------- ------- -------- --------- -------- --------- 2007 91,394,325 6,000 477,500 Х 11,199.2 91,421.8 11,199.2 91,421.8 chan. % +51.90 +99.17 +20.54 Х +49.20 +51.90 +49.20 +51.91 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The weighted average rate of KZT to USD, calculated on all deals of the KASE main (morning) trading session in January 1, 08 - December 31, 08 made up KZT120.28 per USD, on exchange deals - KZT120.32 per USD. KZT to USD devaluation velocity at the exchange weighted average rate in 2008 is estimated at 0.41 % APR. In 2007, KZT to USD has reinforced at face value by 5.28 %. [2009-01-08]