In December volume of transactions in foreign currency at KASE reached an equivalent of USD249.5m

/IRBIS, Dec 29, 01/ - In December 2001 in foreign exchange currency sector of the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) trades were held in U.S. dollars (TOD, TOM, SPOT terms), euros and Russian roubles (TOD). Three sessions were held daily: the morning (main - TOD, if it falls on a holidays in USA or Europe - TOM), day (additional - TOD, if it falls on a holidays in USA or Europe - TOM) and evening (additional - TOM, SPOT). Total of 1,534 deals (1,352) were made within a month (hereafter comparable figures of previous month are given in parentheses), including: in U.S. dollars on TOD terms - 1,491 (1,285), on TOM terms at main, additional and evening sessions - 41 (54); in Russian rouble - 1 (10), in euro on main and additional sessions - 1 (2). Total volume of the operations reached an equivalent of KZT37,503.4m (30,317.9), or $249,475.1 th. (204,056.9). The U.S. dollar accounted for 99.9% (99.7%) of the Exchange's total turnover. Volume of transactions in U.S. dollars reached $249,190.0 th. (203,550.0) for KZT37,460.4m (30,242.6). For comparison, total volume of USD deals in December 2000 at KASE amounted to $242,035.0 th. for KZT35,086.4m. Volume of trades in dollars in December is the biggest monthly volume during the last two years. Tenge devaluation rate against dollar, calculated at weighted average rate of the main session of the Exchange, is estimated in December 2001 (Nov 30, 01 = KZT148.95 - Dec 31, 01 = KZT150.94) by a trend of 15.73% APR. Last month average devaluation rate of tenge was equal to 6.82% APR. Weighted average rate of the U.S. dollar against the tenge, calculated by the deals of the main session in December - KZT150.32 per unit. For November 2001 - KZT148.56 per dollar. Based on the data of the National Bank, volume of interbank over-the- counter deals in U.S. dollars between the operators-residents of Kazakhstan in December 2001 (December 1, 01 through December 24, 01, later data are unavailable) reached $292,155.0 th. Volume of all interbank over-the-counter market during this period: purchases - $314,333.0 th., sales - $358,215.0 th. For Russian rouble volume of deals in December 2001 reached RUR5.0m (13.5) for a total of KZT25.0m (67.4). Tenge fluctuation rate against rouble, estimated using weighted average rate of KASE, equaled in December 2001 (Nov 30, 01 = KZT4.9680 - Dec 31, 01 = KZT5.0040) by a trend of negative 8.53% APR. Last months this figure was negative 9.96% APR (tenge was firming against rouble). For euro volume of transactions in December 2001 totaled EUR135.0 th. (60.0) total for KZT18.0m (7.8). Tenge fluctuation rate against euro, estimated using weighted average rate of KASE, equaled in December 2001 (Nov 30, 01 = KZT130.80 - Dec 31, 01 = KZT133.10) by a trend of negative 20.70% APR. Last months this figure was negative 18.77% APR (tenge was firming against euro).