Ukraine's international reserves in April 2016 expanded by 4.1 percent, or $519.5 million, to $13.241 billion, according to rough estimates, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) reported on its website on May 6.
“The reserves grew in April mainly due to foreign currency purchases by the NBU to balance excess wobbling on the interbank forex market and due to the replenishment of reserves. Net foreign currency purchases by the NBU during the month totaled $675.8 million. In particular, it conducted 13 forex auctions last month where it bought a net amount of $528.4 million. The NBU did not hold auctions to sell foreign currency in April,” the central bank said.
What is more, the reserves also increased by $661.1 million, namely $651.1 million from the placement of government domestic loan bonds denominated in U.S. dollars and $10 million from the World Bank.
During the period under review, the Ukrainian government continued fulfilling its obligations and transferred $114 million to repay and service state and government-guaranteed debt in foreign currency. Of the sum, $58.4 million was spent on servicing state securities.
What is more, the NBU handled a swap operation in April to the tune of $762.2 million.
The NBU reported that the country’s international reserves covered 3.4 months’ imports.
