Net gold and foreign exchange reserves of the National Bank of Kazakhstan in current prices totaled $8,187.9 m. as on October 14, 2005

/IRBIS, Assel Omarova, October 18, 05/ - According to information represented in official site of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, its net international reserves (GFER) excluding money of the National Fund of Kazakhstan decreased in current prices in the first half of October by 1.4% and as on October 14, 2005 equaled to $8,187.9 m. The press-release says that despite currency purchasing by the National Bank on domestic currency market and foreign currency inflow to Government's accounts, servicing of external debt of the Ministry of finance, and also currency sale with the purpose of replenishment of the National Fund's assets caused falling of net currency reserves by $112.7 m. Assets in gold have fallen by $2.3 m. as a result of falling of its price on the world markets by 0.5%. According to the National Bank's data, country's international reserves as a whole (in current prices), i.e. including money of the National Fund (according to preliminary data $5,839.3 m.), have grown by 1.2% relative to previous month and equaled to $14,033.1 m. Falling of the National Bank's net international reserves in the first half of October caused compression of the monetary base by 2.5% or by KZT15.9 bn. Below is data about the dynamics of the National Bank's international reserves and monetary base (current prices) is given. --------------------------------------------------------------------- as of as of as of Indicator Oct 14, 05 Oct 1, 05 Sep 15, 05 ---------------------------------- ---------- --------- ---------- Net international reserves, $m 8,187.9 8,302.9 8,126.0 including: net assets in hard currency* 7,288.8 7,401.5 7,276.0 gold 899.1 901.4 850.0 Monetary base, KZT bn. 626.4 642.3 603.6 KZT/USD (at the end of the period) 133.85 133.89 134.09 --------------------------------------------------------------------- * net assets in hard currency is the difference between gross assets and liabilities in hard currency. [2005-10-18]