In the first half of August net gold and foreign exchange reserves ofKazakhstan increased to $2.043 bln

/IRBIS, Aug.16, 00/ - The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) informs that in the first half of August net gold and foreign exchange reserves of the country totaled $2.043 bln at current prices in comparison with $2.029 bln for the previous month figure. The press release reads that "during the first half of August of current year growth trend of the National Bank reserves remained. In current prices net international reserves grew 0.7%, or $14.2 mln. The National Bank foreign currency purchases on the domestic market caused net foreign exchange reserves to increase by $15.4 mln". National bank also reports that during this period "monetary base expanded insignificantly - only by 0.7% (or KZT0.9 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 half a month (at current price): --------------------------------------------------------------------------- As of Aug. 15, 00 As of July 31, 00 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net international reserves, mln USD 2,043.1 2,028.9 including: foreign exchange assets 1,541.2 1,525.8 gold 501.9 503.1 Monetary base, bln KZT 122.5 121.6 USD/KZT (at the end of period) 142.65 142.70 Price of gold (per 1 troy ounce, USD) 275.45 277.40 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- * net international reserves is the difference between gross reserves and the liabilities in foreign exchange.