In April net gold and foreign currency reserves of Kazakhstan increased to $2,607.0 mln

/IRBIS, May 8, 01/ - The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) informs that in April 2001 net international reserves of the country, excluding the money of the National Fund of Kazakhstan, increased to $2,607.0 mln in current prices relative to $2,452.0 mln as of March 31, 2001. It is said that in current prices net international reserves increased as a result of foreign currency purchases on domestic market and currency receipts to the accounts of the Ministry of Finance in the National Bank. Gold assets increased by $10.3 mln mainly due to an increase in its price on external market by 1.6%. Growth of net international reserves and decrease in net internal assets in April (decrease in the volumes of short-term notes of the National Bank in circulation) forced a slight expansion of the monetary base by 0.1%, up to KZT131.0 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 in April 2001 at current prices: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- As of As of As of April 30, 01 April 16, 01 March 31, 01 ----------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ Net international reserves, mln USD 2,607.0 2,510.9 2,452.0 including: net assets in foreign exchange 2,120.6 2,034.1 1,976.0 gold 486.4 476.8 476.1 Monetary base, bln KZT 131.0 126.5 130.8 USD/KZT (at the end of period) 145.65 145.55 145.45 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net assets in hard currency is difference between gross assets and liabilities in hard currency.