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Monday, December 30

With the Boryspil express train to Kyiv increasingly popular, Ukrzaliznytsia is doubling capacity during peak hours With the Boryspil express train to Kyiv increasingly popular, Ukrzaliznytsia is doubling capacity during peak hours, running a 3-car train with 170 seats between the capital and the nation’s busiest a...

With Russia-Ukraine gas transit talks stretching into today, Gazprom showed its seriousness Friday by paying Naftogaz $2.9 billion. With Russia-Ukraine gas transit talks stretching into today, Gazprom showed its seriousness Friday by paying Naftogaz $2.9 billion. The money was paid in full – principal plus 10-months interest ̵...

Lease tenders for restaurants, duty-free shops, and ATMs at Boryspil are to go through ProZorro, Lease tenders for restaurants, duty-free shops, and ATMs at Boryspil are to go through ProZorro, Infrastructure Minister Vladislav Krykliy, tells the Center for Transportation Strategies. “I definitel...

In tandem on Friday, Ukraine’s Cabinet approved an agreement with Gazprom to settle an unrelated antitrust dispute. In tandem on Friday, Ukraine’s Cabinet approved an agreement with Gazprom to settle an unrelated antitrust dispute. In that case, a Kyiv court in 2017 imposed a $7.2 billion fine on Russia’s state gas...

In Vienna, Russian and Ukrainian teams negotiated Saturday and Sunday the details of a 5-year, 225 billion cubic meter gas transit pact. In Vienna, Russian and Ukrainian teams negotiated Saturday and Sunday the details of a 5-year, 225 billion cubic meter gas transit pact. Late Saturday, Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolev reported progress, b...

Removing one hurdle, the EU has certified the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine, a Naftogaz spinoff company created this month Removing one hurdle, the EU has certified the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine, a Naftogaz spinoff company created this month. “The newly created operator of the gas transmission system of ...

Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak predicted Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will be launched by the end of 2020, Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak predicted Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will be launched by the end of 2020, Deutsche Welle reported Friday from Moscow. The work can be completed by a Russian pi...

Easing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, 200 prisoners were exchanged Sunday between Ukraine and the Russia-controlled sections of Donetsk and Luhansk. Easing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, 200 prisoners were exchanged Sunday between Ukraine and the Russia-controlled sections of Donetsk and Luhansk. Ukraine sent 124 people to the Russia-control...

Intervening aggressively to weaken the hryvnia, the central bank bought half a billion dollars net Saturday. Intervening aggressively to weaken the hryvnia, the central bank bought half a billion dollars net Saturday. Coupled with Thursday’s net purchase of $700 million, the National Bank of Ukraine’s net cu...

The official exchange rate set through Jan. 7 is 23.69 hryvnia to the dollar. The official exchange rate set through Jan. 7 is 23.69 hryvnia to the dollar. This is a 15.5% gain over the 28.03 rate of Jan. 10, 2019.

No economist forecast in January that the hryvnia would end 2019 as the fastest appreciating currency against the dollar in the world. But this does not stop the prognosticators from trying again. No economist forecast in January that the hryvnia would end 2019 as the fastest appreciating currency against the dollar in the world. But this does not stop the prognosticators from trying again.

Oleg Pendzin, a financial analyst, tells UNIAN Oleg Pendzin, a financial analyst, tells UNIAN: “Surely we will see a certain rollback of the dollar, a drop in the hryvnia. At least to the level of 27 hryvnias per dollar, since this figure is actua...

By contrast, experts interviewed by Interfax-Ukraine predict that the hryvnia will continue to strengthen in the New Year. By contrast, experts interviewed by Interfax-Ukraine predict that the hryvnia will continue to strengthen in the New Year. Oleg Kurinnoy, Credit Dnepr Bank’s Treasury Director, says: “With the continu...

Natalia Shishatskaya, Forward Bank’s Head of Treasury, agrees Natalia Shishatskaya, Forward Bank’s Head of Treasury, agrees, saying: “Given the budget deficit, the Ministry of Finance is likely to continue to place OVDPs [government bonds] at auctions next year,...

Friday, December 27

Ukrposhta is preparing to launch 500 mobile post offices in a program to be financed largely by a $100 million loan from “leading European banks,” Ukrposhta is preparing to launch 500 mobile post offices in a program to be financed largely by a $100 million loan from “leading European banks,” Ihor Smilianskyi, general director of the state posta...

Revenue is to be boosted by about $10 million from rentals or sales sale of surplus postal property Revenue is to be boosted by about $10 million from rentals or sales sale of surplus postal property. In addition, Ukrposhta’s goal is to increase parcel handling in 2020 by 30-40%. If the Rada votes t...

In 2020, the government plans to implement 10 public-private concession projects In 2020, the government plans to implement 10 public-private concession projects, largely in infrastructure, said Yulia Svyrydenko, Deputy Economy Minister. Addressing a public-private partnership con...

Tourist visitors to Lviv fell by 10% last year, to 2.5 million Tourist visitors to Lviv fell by 10% last year, to 2.5 million, reports the city’s Tourism Department. As Ukrainians visited new destinations in the EU, the foreign portion of visitors to Lviv rose to...

Ukrainians’ optimism about their country’s future has hit a 15-year high Ukrainians’ optimism about their country’s future has hit a 15-year high, according to a nationwide poll released yesterday by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation. For the first time s...

Eight months after winning the second round of the presidential election, Zelenskiy enjoys the trust of 62% of respondents. Eight months after winning the second round of the presidential election, Zelenskiy enjoys the trust of 62% of respondents. This approval rating should further grow after a Russia-Ukraine prisoner rel...

Looking at 2020, 52% of Thursday’s poll respondents believe the hryvnia will remain stable and 47% believe that investments will grow. Looking at 2020, 52% of Thursday’s poll respondents believe the hryvnia will remain stable and 47% believe that investments will grow. Looking beyond, 38% of Thursday’s poll respondents believe that U...

Trying to break the hryvnia’s rise, the central bank bought $700 million worth of foreign exchange on Thursday – its largest purchase of the year. Trying to break the hryvnia’s rise, the central bank bought $700 million worth of foreign exchange on Thursday – its largest purchase of the year. In one day, the National Bank of Ukraine bought the e...

Oleg Churiy, first deputy governor of the central bank, writes on the Oleg Churiy, first deputy governor of the central bank, writes on the NBU Facebook page: “Strengthening of the hryvnia is a completely logical phenomenon in the context of accelerated economic growth,...

With yields depressed and tenors short, investors bought the dollar equivalent of $228 million in Ukraine treasuries at Tuesday’s auction – slightly less than half the amount of one week earlier. With yields depressed and tenors short, investors bought the dollar equivalent of $228 million in Ukraine treasuries at Tuesday’s auction – slightly less than half the amount of one week earlier.

For 2-year dollar-denominated bonds, investors bought $100 million worth, accepting a 3.86% interest rate For 2-year dollar-denominated bonds, investors bought $100 million worth, accepting a 3.86% interest rate, 22 bps below three weeks earlier. For hryvnia denominated bonds, investors accepted a weighte...

Concorde Capital’s Evgeniya Akhtyrko writes Concorde Capital’s Evgeniya Akhtyrko writes: “Apparently, the last auction of 2019 occurred with minimal or no participation of non-resident investors, who have been the most active buyers of UAH-deno...

Western companies are showing serious interest in buying into Motor Sich, the aircraft motor factory, in 2020, outgoing acting US Ambassador William B. Taylor Jr. Western companies are showing serious interest in buying into Motor Sich, the aircraft motor factory, in 2020, outgoing acting US Ambassador William B. Taylor Jr. told a group of journalists Thursday ...

Noting that 55% of prosecutors recently failed a vetting process, Taylor stressed that creating a rule of law is fundamental for Ukraine to attract Western investment Noting that 55% of prosecutors recently failed a vetting process, Taylor stressed that creating a rule of law is fundamental for Ukraine to attract Western investment. “As the evidence builds that the...

In 2020, at least 300 ‘small and medium’ state companies are to be auctioned on ProZorro.Sales In 2020, at least 300 ‘small and medium’ state companies are to be auctioned on ProZorro.Sales, Dmitry Sennichenko, head of the State Property Fund, tells LB.ua. In advance, information on 500 compani...

Hong Kong’s China Merchants Port is to buy the stakes of France’s CMA CGM in Odesa’s container terminal and nine other ports around the world. Hong Kong’s China Merchants Port is to buy the stakes of France’s CMA CGM in Odesa’s container terminal and nine other ports around the world. Valued at nearly $1 billion, the deal is to close this sp...