Экономика и политика

According to an announcement from the National Bank of Ukraine, the BOP deficit in March shrank to USD 1.29 bln, compared to USD 2.14 bln in February 2009. The 1Q09 BOP deficit was USD 5.23 bln, compared to USD 0.14 bln in 1Q08.

According to an announcement from the IMF’s Managing Director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the Fund is planning to soften requirements for the budget and financial policies of Ukraine and other countries that the IMF is cooperatng with on anti-crisis activities. The details were not revealed, however.

In Ukraine, official statistics reported a YoY decrease in consumer spending and industrial production volumes in January-March 2009. Retail trade lost 11.5% YoY in 3M09 and totalled UAH 96 bln.

Shareholders of the Kharkiv-based OJSC Turboatom [TATM UZ, HOLD] – the largest turbine manufacturer in Ukraine and one of the largest energy equipment producers in the world – have decided to pay out UAH 50.884 mln (USD 6.6 mln) in dividends for 2008.

In January-February 2009, Ukraine’s exports totalled USD 5.1 bln and imports equalled USD 5.8 bln. Both indicators saw serious year-on-year contractions with the exports volume falling by 38.6% YoY and imports by 48.5% YoY.

According to a note from the National Bank of Ukraine, the monetary base grew 0.8% MoM in March (a 6.4% decline YTD) and has, therefore, reached UAH 174.8 bln (USD 22.7 bln). At the same time, the money mass shrank 1.5% MoM (10.1% decline YTD), reaching UAH 463.7 bln (USD 6.0 bln).

According to a note from the Ministry of Finance, Ukraine’s direct external debt fell 0.8% MoM in February to USD 10.916 bln. At the same time, domestic direct debt grew 1.7% to UAH 45.620 bln (USD 5.925 bln).

According to a note from the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine, CPI growth in March reached 5.9% YTD. The MoM figure was somewhat lowered to 1.4% in March, compared to 1.5% in February and 2.9% in January. The YoY inflation, therefore, reached 18.1% in March.

According to a note from the National Bank of Ukraine, foreign reserves dropped 4.2% (USD 1.066 bln) MoM in March, thus reaching USD 24.392 bln. The YTD decrease, therefore, has reached 22.4% (USD 7.070 bln). The balance of Interbank interventions in March reached USD 1.077 bln.

According to a note from Ukraine’s State Treasury, the budget profits in 1Q09 were UAH 43.8 bln (USD 5.7 bln), or 101.3% of the planned figure. At the same time, budget profits in March were UAH 17.4 bln (USD 2.3 bln) or 102.2% of the planned profits.