In first two months of 2002 volume of currency transactions at KASE reached $291.2m and rose 12.2% against similar period of last year

/IRBIS, Mar 01, 02/ - In first two months of 2002 total volume of transactions made at the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) reached an equivalent of $291,241.7 th. and increased by $31,760.9 th., or 12.2% relative to similar period of last year. During the year 2001 foreign currency transactions volume at KASE was estimated by equivalent $1,961.9m. Following is the table with the volumes of foreign currency transactions at KASE in 2002, which is grouped by months. ------------------------------------------------------------ Total volume of trades, th. unit. Volume --------------------------- Volume, of equivalent, Month USD DEM EUR RUR m KZT th. USD -------- --------- ---- ---- ------- -------- -------------- January 150,880 0 0 27,100 23,011.7 151,766.3 February 138,810 0 80 18,400 21,203.7 139,475.4 -------- --------- ---- ---- ------- -------- -------------- Total 289,690 45 80 45,500 44,215.4 291,241.7 ------------------------------------------------------------ Weighted average market rate of tenge to U.S. dollar in 2002, calculated based on the deals of the main session of the KASE, equaled by IRBIS estimates KZT151.80 per dollar. Devaluation rate of tenge to dollar is estimated in 2002at 4.92% APR based on the rate of the Exchange. In 2001 tenge devaluation level was 3.82%.