/IRBIS, May 5, 00/ - The National Bank of Kazakhstan informs in its press- release #015, that by the end of April of the year 2000 gross gold-currency reserves of the country increased up to $1,982 bln and net up to $1,566bln, which in current prices equaled 5.8% and 8.0%, respectively. In real terms gross international reserves grew by 5.7% and 7.9%, correspondingly.

According to the press release, increase in the reserves by $108.8 mln was caused by replenishment of the currency reserves by $106.8 mln and gold reserves by $1.9 mln mainly due to operations of the National Bank in domestic market. Meanwhile, hard currency assets rose by 7.8%, gold assets - by 0.5% (due to operations of the National Bank with gold on external and domestic markets).

The press-release reads, that "in April of current year growth in net international reserves of the National Bank caused the monetary base to expand by 3.8% (or by KZT2.5 bln)".

Following is the table that describes the dynamics of the international reserves of the National Bank of Kazakhstan and that of the monetary base during the last month:

In current prices In real terms* Apr. 30, 00 March 31, 00 Apr. 30, 00 March 31, 00

---------------------------  ----------  ------------  -----------  ------------
Gross international reserves,
mln USD                        1,981.5      1,872.7       2,008.6      1,899.6
including:
- hard currency assets         1,482.4      1,375.6       1,482.4      1,375.6
- gold                           499.0        497.1         526.2        524.0
Net international reserves,
mln USD **                     1,565.6      1,449.2       1592.8       1476.1
Monetary base, bln KZT           105.5        101.6        105.5        101.6
USD/KZT (at the end of period)   142.15       141.80       138.20       138.20
Price of gold 
(for 1 troy ounce, USD)          275.85       275.90       290.85       290.85
---------------------------  ----------  ------------  -----------  ------------

* real prices calculated using price of gold at the end of 1999 ($290.85 per 1 troy ounce);
** net international reserves is the difference between gross reserves and the liabilities in hard currency.