In January of 2003 volume of transactions in foreign currency at KASE reached the equivalent of $306.6 m and decreased by 28.8% relative to December

/IRBIS, February 3, 03/ - In January of 2003 volume of transactions in foreign currency at Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) reached the equivalent of USD306,601.5 th. (KZT47,622.8 m) and decreased relative to December of 2002 by USD123,726.7 th. (KZT19,361.7 m) or by 28.8% (28.9%). Relative to January of last year the volume increased by USD154,835.2 th. (KZT24,611.1 m) or 2.0 times (2.1 times). Total of 2,131 deals (2,777) were made within the month (here and further comparable figures of previous month are given in parentheses), including: in U.S. dollars on TOD terms - 2,073 (2,538), on TOM terms - 52 (151), on SPOT terms - 0 (85), on SPOTNEXT terms - 1 (0), in euro - 5 (0), in Russian ruble - 0 (3). Share of US dollar in the total turnover of the exchange's currency market totaled in January 99.85% (99.97%). Volume of transactions in U.S. dollars reached $306,150 th. ($430,190) for KZT47,552.6 m (66,963.0 m). For comparison, total volume of USD deals in January of 2002 at KASE amounted to $150,880 th. for the amount of KZT22,877.3 m. Tenge devaluation rate against dollar, calculated at weighted average rate of the main session of the Exchange, is estimated in January of 2003 (December 31, 02 = KZT155.85 - January 31, 03 = KZT154.83) by a trend of negative 7.71% APR. Last month average devaluation rate of tenge was positive 7.37% APR (tenge was strengthening relative to dollar). Weighted average rate of the U.S. dollar against the tenge, calculated by the deals of the main session in January - KZT155.34 per unit. For December of 2002 - KZT155.68 per dollar. Based on the data of the National Bank, volume of over-the-counter deals in U.S. dollars between the operators-residents of Kazakhstan since January 1 of 2003 till January 24, 2003 (later data is absent) reached $375,975.0 th. Volume of all interbank over-the-counter market during this period: purchases - $387,016.0 th., sales - $389,742.0 th. On Russian rouble volume of deals in January of 2003 reached RUR4.4 m for a total of KZT21.5 m. Judging on best demand quotations of market- makers on rouble at KASE's day session (December 27, 02 = 4.8960 - January 31, 03 = 4.8610), in January of 2003 tenge was strengthening relative to rouble with average speed 8.70% APR. Volume of over-the-counter transactions on Russian rouble between operators-residents of Kazakhstan according to the National Bank data since January 1 till January 24 of 2003 (later data is absent) was RUR50,396.0 th. Volume of deals of entire over-the counter interbank market (taking into account non-residents) in this period: purchase - RUR95,862.0 th., sale - RUR48,111.0 th. In euro transactions volume in January of 2003 at KASE equaled to EUR420.0 th. to the total amount of KZT70.1 m. In December of 2002 no deals on euro were made. Devaluation rate of tenge relative to euro, which was calculated on weighted average stock exchange's rate of the day session, is estimated in January of 2003 (December 31, 02 = 155.73 - January 31, 03 = 168.69) by the trend 97.99% APR Volume of over-the-counter transactions on euro between operators- residents of Kazakhstan according to the National Bank data since January 1 till January 24 of 2003 (later data is absent) was EUR1,210.0 th. Volume of deals of entire over-the counter interbank market (taking into account non- residents) in this period: purchase - EUR2,653.0 th., sale - EUR1,210.0 th. [2003-02-03]