In the first quarter of 2002 volume of currency transactions at KASE reached $448.0m and rose 10.7% against similar period of last year

/IRBIS, Apr 01, 02/ - In first three months of 2002 total volume of transactions made at the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) reached an equivalent of $447,965.7 th. and increased by $43,306.0 th., or 10.7% 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 EUR RUR m KZT th. USD -------- ---------- ----- -------- -------- -------------- January 150,880 0 27,100 23,011.7 151,766.3 February 138,810 80 18,400 21,203.7 139,475.4 March 156,335 345 2,700 23,855.5 156,724.0 -------- ---------- ----- -------- -------- -------------- Total 446,025 425 48,200 68,070.9 447,965.7 --------------------------------------------------------------- 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 KZT151.95 per dollar. Devaluation rate of tenge to dollar is estimated as of March 29,2002 at 4.18% APR based on the rate of the Exchange. In 2001 tenge devaluation level was 3.82%. [2002-04-01]