/REUTERS, Алматы, 24.06.04/ - Международное рейтинговое агентство Moody's повысило прогноз рейтинга финансовой устойчивости Народного (Халык) банка Казахстана до позитивного со стабильного, говорится в сообщении агентства.

Прогноз долгосрочного рейтинга по депозитам в валюте "Ba1" остается стабильным.

Народный банк - третий по величине в Казахстане.

Ниже приводиться оригинальный текст сообщения Moody's на английском языке.

MOODY'S CHANGES TO POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON HALYK BANK'S (Kazakhstan) D- FSR

Limassol, June 23, 2004 - Moody's Investors Service has changed to positive from stable the outlook on Halyk Bank's (Kazakhstan) D- financial strength rating (FSR). The bank's Ba1 long-term foreign currency deposit rating continues to carry a stable outlook.

According to Moody's, the positive outlook for Halyk's D- FSR reflects (i) the bank's prevailing strong positions in retail and small and small and medium-sized companies markets; (ii) improving profitability despite gradually shrinking interest margins; (iii) continued rationalisation of the branch network that has resulted in improved efficiency; (iv) relative good asset quality despite rapid growth in lending; (iv) improving capitalisation ratios and adequate liquidity; and (v) prevailing relatively good client diversification on both sides of the bank's balance sheet.

Halyk Bank is headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan and had total IAS- consolidated assets of KZT249.5 billion (US$1.73 billion) as of 31 December 2003.

[2004-06-24]