In March 2002 net gold and foreign currency reserves of National Bank of Kazakhstan in current prices increased to $2,625.4m

/IRBIS, Apr 3, 02/ - As the press-release of the National Bank of Kazakhstan reads, in March 2002 net international reserves of the country, excluding the money of the National Fund of Kazakhstan, increased to $2,625.4m in current prices relative to $2,576.8m as of March 1, 2002. It is said that currency purchases of the National Bank of Kazakhstan on domestic market, as well as currency inflows into the accounts of the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan led to an increase in net currency reserves by $37m. The gold assets grew by $11.5m as a result of increase in its prices on world markets by 2.2%. Increase in net internal assets of the National Bank (increase in volumes of Government deposits) in March caused the monetary base to expand by 0.7% or KZT154.9bn. Based on the National Bank data, net international reserves of the country, that is, total of gold and foreign currency reserves of the National Bank and National fund's money ($1.306.3m) increased by 1.8% relative to previous month and amounted to $3.934.1m. 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 March. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- As of As of As of April 1, 02 March 15, 02 March 1, 02 ----------------------------------- ----------- ------------ ----------- Net international reserves, mln USD 2,625.4 2,579.7 2,576.8 including: net assets in hard currency 2,091.8 2,064.3 2,054.8 gold 533.5 515.4 522.0 Monetary base, KZT bn 154.9 159.5 153.9 KZT/USD (at the end of period) 152.30 152.10 151.90 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net assets in hard currency is a difference between gross assets and liabilities in hard currency. [2002-04-03]