The Economist has published updated data on the rating of world currencies, the so-called Big Mac Index, according to which the cost of the hryvnia is underestimated by 61.3%, and the real rate according to purchasing power parity should be UAH 9.93 per U.S. dollar, the Ukrainian Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (Mirror Weekly) ezine said. Early this year, the Ukrainian currency was underestimated by 65.2% according to the Big Mac Index.
The Big Mac Index is an index created by The Economist based on the theory of purchasing power parity (PPP). Over the long-term, PPP theory states that currency exchange rates should equal the price of a basket of goods and services in different countries.
The official forex rate set for Ukraine’s hryvnia on July 12 is UAH 25.8 per U.S. dollar.
National bank of ukraine’s official rates as of 15/07/19
Source: National Bank of Ukraine
Net profit of PrivatBank (Kyiv) in January-June 2019 totaled UAH 18.3 billion, which is 2.7 times more than a year ago (UAH 6.9 billion), PrivatBank Board Chairman Petr Krumphanzl has told Interfax-Ukraine.
According to him, net interest income of the bank over the period amounted to UAH 9.8 billion, net commission income reached UAH 8.5 billion.
“One of the significant factors that contributed to the achievement of good financial result is the high efficiency of the bank. This is ensured by significant automation of processes, high efficiency of the regional network, which includes almost 2,000 branches,” the banker said.
As reported, the government of Ukraine on December 18, 2016, referring to the offer of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) and former shareholders of PrivatBank, the largest of who at that time were Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennadiy Boholiubov, decided to nationalize this largest Ukrainian financial institution and infused over UAH 155 billion in its capital.
According to the NBU, PrivatBank as of April 1, 2019 was first among 77 banks operating on the market in terms of total assets (UAH 525.698 billion).
Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises plan to retain smelting of steel at the level of the forecast for July in August 2019, to 1.8 million tonnes.
According to the Ukrmetalurgprom association, the plan for August also provides for the preservation of total pig iron production at the level of 1.8 million tonnes and reduction of total rolled steel smelting by 5.9%, to 1.6 million tonnes from 1.7 million tonnes.
According to the updated data from Ukrmetallurgprom, in January-June 2019, 31.62 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate (105% compared to the same period of 2018), 15.8 million tonnes of sinter (102%), 10.93 million tons of pellets (103%), 5.19 million tonnes of gross coke with 6% moisture (97%), 10.24 million tonnes of pig iron (101%), 10.93 million tonnes of steel (105%), 9.42 million tonnes of rolled metal (102%) and 560,000 tonnes of pipe products (104%).
In June, 1.524 million tonnes of pig iron was produced (less by 9% compared to May 2019), 1.659 million tonnes of steel (91%), 1.5 million tonnes of rolled products (86%).
As of July 9, 2019, 17 out of 21 blast furnaces, seven out of nine open-hearth furnaces, 13 out of 16 converters, six out of 15 electric furnaces and 15 out of 15 continuous casting machines were in operation.
The supervisory board of Kniazha Life Vienna Insurance Group (Kyiv) on July 9 approved the acquisition of government domestic loan bonds for the amount of UAH 56 million by the company, which is 13.24% of the cost of its assets (UAH 422.896 million), according to information in the database of the National Commission for Securities and the Stock Market.
The company saw UAH 360.4 million in net profit in 2018, which is 12.5% more than a year ago. Its assets grew by 10.9%, to UAH 422.9 million.
Retained profit totaled UAH 83.149 million, while a year ago it was UAH 67.225 million. Net worth grew by 26.5%, to UAH 123.9 million. Total bills receivable fell by 17%, to UAH 3.185 million.
Noncurrent liabilities expanded to UAH 53.081 million, while current remained unchanged at UAH 33.551 million.
PrJSC Kniazha Life VIG was established in 1999 and specializes in life insurance.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) under EBRD’s Ukrainian Sustainable Energy Lending Facility III (USELF III), a EUR 250 million facility to support renewable energy in Ukraine, will partially finance construction of the Dnepro-Bugsky wind farm with a planned capacity of 110 MW located in Oleksandrivka (Kherson region).
The decision was made by the EBRD board on July 10, EBRD Senior Adviser External Affairs for Eastern Europe & Central Asia Usov told Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.
EBRD said that Dnepro-Bugsky Wind Power Station LLC is the borrower of the funds. The borrower is ultimately fully owned by three sponsors, Akuo Energy SAS (France), Saffelberg Investment NV (Belgium) and Aeolus Invest NV (Belgium). The limited liability company is a special purpose vehicle incorporated in Ukraine for the purpose of developing, constructing and operating the project.
The total cost of the project is EUR 188.64 million. The possible share to be paid by the EBRD is not disclosed.
According to other materials of the project posted on the bank’s website, Dnepro-Bugsky wind farm will belong to Akuo Energy.
The project consists of 25 4.4 MW turbines on the Dniprovsko-Buzsky Lyman, which will be delivered by Nordex. Under the project it is planned to build a 150 kV power line to the Posad-Pokrovska substation of 27.3 km long with 194 pillars.
