LONDON, Nov. 14 - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services assigned its 'BB-' senior unsecured debt rating to Ukraine’s $700 million bond maturing in 2017, the agency announced.

KIEV, Nov. 14 - Veolia Eau of France is interested in the implementation of investment projects for the modernization of the water supply system in Kiev.

KIEV, Nov. 14 - Administrative limits on the price of gas extracted in Ukraine at an economically unjustified level over the last few years have created serious problems for gas extraction companies and have prevented an increase in gas extraction, the state-owned Naftogaz Ukrayiny said.

KIEV, Nov. 14 - The Bank of Georgia is considering purchasing another bank in Ukraine following its acquisition of a 98.77% stake in Kiev-based Universal Bank for Development and Partnership in October, according to the head of the supervisory board of the Bank of Georgia, Lado Gurgenidze.

KIEV, Nov. 15 - Ukraine's foreign trade balance deficit in from January through September was estimated at $3.71 billion, nearly three times the level seen in the same period last year, the State Statistics Committee reported.

KIEV, Nov. 15 – Russia and Ukraine on Thursday failed to agree on natural gas prices and gas transportation tariffs to be charged in 2008, leaving some of the most important energy and economic issues unsettled.

KIEV, Nov. 15 ??“ Slavuta Budfarfor, Ukraine??™s biggest producer of bathroom ceramics owned by a Ukrainian-Finnish joint venture, plans to boost output by 50% over the next five years to meet growing demand, a company official said.

KIEV, Nov. 14 ??“ Vanco Energy, an independent U.S.-based oil company, is ready to reduce its share in the Production Sharing Agreement with Ukraine for development of an offshore oil field near Kerch, a newspaper reported.

KIEV, Nov. 15 - UkrGazVydobuvannya, Ukraine??™s biggest natural gas producer, warned Wednesday it would dramatically reduce natural gas output next year it Parliament increases royalties on gas extraction as the government has suggested.

KIEV, Nov. 15 ??“ Ukraine plans to hike 63.4% royalties on extraction of natural gas to 50 hryvnias ($9.9) per 1,000 cubic meters in 2007, according to a draft 2007 budget prepared by the finance ministry.