/IRBIS, Oct.3, 00/ - The National Bank of Kazakhstan informs in its press- release #030, that as of September 30 net gold and forex reserves of the country (difference between currency reserves and liabilities in hard currency) increased to $2,188 bln in current prices up from $2.104 bln as of August 31.

It is said that "... in September net international reserves (in current prices) grew by 4% up to $2,187.9 mln. Despite the servicing of the Ministry of finance's external debt, forex purchase operations of NBK on the domestic market contributed to the replenishment of net forex reserves by $81.9 mln up to $1,683.5 mln. Gold assets increased by $1.8 mln up to $502.5 mln due to the purchases of the bank on domestic market". Despite the last statement of the National Bank regarding the gold reserves, this figure was the same as of August 31 - $502.5 mln (see the table below).

The National Bank informs that "growth in net international reserves of the bank caused the monetary base to expand by 8.8%, or KZT135.4 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):

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                                     As of Sep.30, 00  As of Aug.31, 00
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Net international reserves, mln USD           2,187.9           2,104.0
including                                                              
Net foreign exchange assets                   1,683.5           1,601.6
Gold                                            502.5             502.5
Monetary base, bln KZT                          135.4             124.4
USD/KZT (at the end of period)                 142.75            142.65
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