The Statement of Financial Position of the central bank suggest that in January-June the National Bank of Ukraine’s assets increased slightly by 24.8 billion UAH, or by 3% YoY, to 874 billion UAH.
“On the asset side of the balance sheet, the largest increase was recorded for item “Ukraine’s International Reserves” (foreign securities, SDR holdings, etc.). The assets included in this item grew by 28.3 billion UAH (9%), reaching 347.5 billion UAH. As at the end of the period under review, the NBU’s international reserves reached the equivalent of $14 billion”, said Director of the NBU Financial Controlling Department Oleh Strynzha. “An 18.4 billion UAH reduction in loans granted to banks and other borrowers is yet another steady positive trend indicating that banks keep repaying refinancing loans to the central bank, which points to the sustained increase in banks’ liquidity”.
Strynzha said that the central bank’s total liabilities had shrunk by 11.3 billion UAH YoY, or by 2%, to 715.1 billion UAH.
“In the first half of the year, the outstanding amount of NBU certificates of deposit (CDs) fell by 45%, to 49.7 billion UAH. This financial instrument is gradually becoming less attractive to banks due to monetary policy easing. This move is expected to provide further impetus to the recovery of lending to the real sector as long as corporate debt burden is reduced and creditor rights’ protection is strengthened”, Strynzha said.
The central bank’s equity expanded by 36.1 billion UAH over this period. (Bank.gov.ua/Business World Magazine)