In April net gold-currency reserves of Kazakhstan increased to $1.566 bln

/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.