One troy ounce=31.10 grams
The European Business Association (EBA) predicts growth in the share of cashless payments of the total volume of payments to 17-20% in 2019 from 12-15% as of late 2018, the association has said in a press release. “This can be favored by the appearance of new technologies on the market that are interesting and convenient for consumers, for example, Apple Pay, Google Pay and others. In addition, the list of points where it is possible to pay using noncash – transport, cultural events, markets and shops – is expanding,” the EBA said.
“Certainly, we want a payment revolution now. One does not need cash to go anywhere and one could pay with a card everywhere, and also to have the card tied to the owner’s fingerprint. However, there are conditions and rates of market development,” said Coordinator of the EBA Electronic Payments Committee Ievgenii Veremiichenko said.
At the same time, in 2019, the business expects the introduction of several new services, among which is the issuance of cash through the POS terminals at the checkout counter of an outlet, the EBA said.
According to its experts, this service will solve the problem of underdeveloped banking infrastructure and provide consumers with access to funds in accounts where there are no bank branches.
The legislative basis for launching this service has been created, market players are making final adjustments and are preparing to start providing this service in the near future, the EBA said.
Along with this, the market expects currency exchange transactions in a cashless form via the Internet banking, which, as the association said, will be available in February.
Ukrainian businesses predict further economic growth and the creation of new jobs in 2019 for the second year in a row, according to a survey of company heads conducted by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) in the fourth quarter of 2018. According to the website of the central bank, the growth of business activity is expected at enterprises of all types of economic activity, while the most optimistic enterprises are in the processing industry.
In the regional context, optimistic moods are preserved by companies from all regions, except for Kirovohrad. Enterprises from Ternopil and Lviv regions have the highest expectations.
“Expectations of high growth rates of economic activity are based primarily on the forecast of an increase in the total volume of sales of own produce, as well as investment spending on machinery and equipment,” the report said.
According to the National Bank, one-third of respondents expect that production will grow, and every second company believes that it will at least remain at the current level. The growth of the total sales of products and the improvement of the financial and economic state is predicted by respondents of all types of economic activity, except for enterprises of power and water supply sectors. Trade and processing enterprises have the highest expectations.
A drop in frequency on the synchronously interconnected Continental Europe system was registered on January 10, 2019 at around 21.00 and the causes of this drop are still under investigation by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E). ENTSO-E gave this information on Wednesday, January 16. The frequency drop was sufficient to alert the TSOs but did not at any moment endanger security of supply, the network said.
A mismeasurement on lines between Germany and Austria was identified and corrected by TenneT Germany. However, this mismeasurement cannot explain the frequency drop on January 10. The investigation, which is still on-going, is reviewing the significant variation in European production around 21.00 which coincided with changes in trade between different countries.
“Given the current automation process of Ukraine’s new electricity market, this incident forces us to seriously think about the quality of software and the timing of its testing. The synchronous area of the integrated power grid of Ukraine is much less than ENTSO-E and the consequences of software errors and inconsistencies more serious than just stopping the trade,” Chief Expert on technological systems, Head of the commercial accounting management group of national energy company Ukrenergo Oleksandr Karpenko said on his Facebook page.
As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine at the end of December 2018 approved an action plan for the harmonization of the united power grid of Ukraine with ENTSO-E.
On January 19 and 20, 2019 Ancient Kiev in the Principality of Kievan Rus invites to the celebration of Epiphany Holiday according to the ancient traditions. In the program: a religious procession from the church to the Forest lake and swimming in the ice-hole (on Saturday, January 19), a play about John the Baptist, Christmas nativity scene and the master-class on learning and singing carols, equestrian performances, an interactive musical performance with special effects, hot meals and warm drinks, winter funs, and traditional crafts fair.
Ancient Kyiv opens at 10:00. The program starts at 13:00.
The ticket price: a full adult ticket – 200.00 UAH, for pensioners and students – 100.00 UAH; for schoolchildren – 50.00 UAH, for preschool children – for free.
Ancient Kyiv in the Principality of Kyivan Rus is not far from modern Kyiv – only in a 45-minutes’ drive – in the Kyiv region, Obukhiv district, vill. Kopachiv. Route taxis leave from Kyiv from the «Vydybitchi» metro station, according to the schedule on the website.
The Interfax subscribers can save money with the “openbusiness-20” promo code for a 20%-discount for the adult ticket (at full price) to the Principality of Kyivan Rus:
– by previous order by tel.: +38 044 461-99-37, +38 050 385-20-35
– or at the cash desk at the entrance to the «Kyivan Rus Park».
