/IRBIS, Feb.18, 00/ - Following is the table of major indicators of Kazakhstani market for U.S. dollar (more than 98% of country's all currency market).

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US dollar trades at the Kazakhstan stock exchange (KASE)
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Toll                           USD TOD       USD TOD     USD TOM    USD SPOT
Session                           Main   Additional.     Evening     Evening 
Time of trades (ALM)       10:15-11:00   11:30-15:30 14:00-18:00 14:00-18:00
Average weighted rate    139.93(+0.13) Not indicated      140.03           -
Volume of session (mln)    3.525(+725)         1.000       0.500           0
Demand price                    139.97        139.98      139.99      140.15
Supply price                    139.98             -      140.10           -
Number of participants              18             5           6           6
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Indicative US dollar quotations in the interbank market in the information system REUTERS at KASE sessions closing (disregarding settlement dates)

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Demand price                    139.92         139.93                 140.00
Supply price                    139.99         140.03                 140.10
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Notes: Best bid and ask prices at closing of the trades are shown as the Exchange quotations.

By indicative interbank quotations of the dollar in REUTERS information system, tenge lost 20 points in comparison with previous day closing on demand and 24 points on supply of the American currency.

Today currency market of the country revived again after a brief calm. Quite active trade in U.S. dollars on the morning (main) session of KASE continued on additional (day) and evening trades. Dealers were putting out quotations till the very closing of the market.

Distinctive feature of the day - growth in the exchange rate of the dollar. The market received the impulse on the morning session of KASE, where dollar was growing throughout the session. It had a psychological impact on the dealers, which made the market get active in the afternoon. The exchange rate of the dollar kept rising all day long. Based on interbank quotations, such tendency was being observed out of KASE as well.

In IRBIS analysts' opinion, repayment of SS disturbed the equilibrium of the market. On Thursday and Friday very big amount had to flow into correspondent accounts of the banks - KZT9,765.2 mln. And no securities were offered on Friday. Therefore, some banks preferred to transfer their free tenges into U.S. dollars. During three days these dollars will be working in deposits of the American banks.

Under the influence of this factor today the buyers of USD were more compliant than they were during last five days, which allowed the sellers to use the market conjuncture to increase the exchange rate of the dollar.

It means the firming of the dollar on Friday should not be considered a long term trend. It is more likely the exchange rate will continue to grow mechanically only on Monday, and then it will go backwards, and the market will return to its normal condition.