Last half-month net Gold-currency Reserve of Kazakhstan increased by 4.8% to $1,551 on Feb.15, 00

/IRBIS, Feb.16, 00/ - The National Bank of Kazakhstan informs that during last week the gross international reserves of the National Bank have increased in the current prices from $1,937 billion (January 31, 00) to $2.006 billion (February 15, 00). The net international reserves on November 12 have increased by $71.3 million or by 4.8%. The growth of reserves was stipulated by increasing of currency reserves by $22.6 mostly at the expense of purchasing on the domestic market. Besides increase in $46.3 was stipulated by 9.1% gold price growth. The monetary base by February 15 has decreased to 105.4 billion tenges from 105.7 billion tenges on January 31, 00. The table describing the international reserves of the National Bank of Kazakhstan within the last half-month is shown below: In current prices In real terms* -------------------- ---------------------- Feb.15,00 Jan.31,00 Feb.15, 00 Jan.31, 00 --------------------------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- Gross international reserves, million USD 2 006.2 1 937.3 1 974.0 1 945.2 Including: Assets in a hard currency 1 450.8 1 428.2 1 450.0 1 428.2 Gold 555.4 509.1 523.2 517.0 Net international reserves, million USD ** 1 550.6 1 479.3 1 518.4 1 487.2 Money base, billion tenge 105.4 105.7 105.4 105.7 USD/KZT (at the end of period) 139.85 139.45 138.2 83.8 Price of gold (for 1 troy ounce, USD) 308.75 283.05 290.85 287.45 --------------------------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- * Price of gold is specified at the end of 1998 ($287.45 per 1 troy ounce); ** Net international reserves are difference between gross reserves and the hard currency obligations.