Dollar in Kazakhstan remain at levels close to 130.00 - dealers

/REUTERS, Almaty, Tatyana Seroshtanova, February 4, 05/ - Foreign exchange market participants predict dollar will remain at current levels of 129.80 - 130.10 tenge per dollar - until the end of February, while the National Bank continues preventing dollar from depreciation, as a result he market remains around 130.00 level. "It is hard to talk about change in tendency. Usually in March we have large inflows, near that term gradual change is to happen", Alpha-bank Kazakhstan representative told. Weighted average tenge rate on Friday rose to KZT129.98 per $1 at the Exchange from Thursday's 130.08. The volume surged to $65.975 m from 20.78 million on Thursday. "The situation on market did not change within this week. Such speculative sentiment, when we hit 130.60 tenge per $1, was broken as no sellers were present, while the National bank, in our opinion remains at 130.00. Today for last two weeks we overcome 130.00. However, suppose that National bank still contemplates preventing dollar from a fall", CenterCredit bank's dealer said. Major directions of market movements are currently being formed at the Exchange, a major benchmark for market participants. "..at the exchange all spreads, good liquidity and volumes are known. Currently the exchange is the benchmark", dealer from CenterCredit told. Some market participants try to go bearish on dollar on the grounds of information about Eurobond placements by TuranAlem ($350 m) and Kazkommertsbank ($150 m). Dollar fluctuations in next week according to dealers predictions will be within ranges 129.8-130.1 per $1. "We don't expect any changes, most probably the market will be around 130.00", TuranAlem dealer told. [2005-02-04]