ODESSA, Nov. 26 – Several thousand businessmen took part in a rally against the adoption of the Tax Code held in front of the building of Odessa regional administration.

According to the police, around 1,000 people took part in the rally.

KIEV, Nov. 26 – The rise of the current account deficit in October to $907 million from $194 million in September is mainly linked to the increase in economic activity in the country, Valeriy Lytvytsky, the head of the group of advisors to the Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, said.

KIEV, Nov. 26 – Some of the entrepreneurs protesting on Independence Square in Kiev against the enactment of the Tax Code are planning to start an indefinite protest on Monday.

KIEV, Nov. 25 – The Tax Code cuts the period taxpayers have to appeal against the decisions of controlling bodies from three years to one month, while giving to the controlling bodies three years to collect tax debts, which restricts the rights of taxpayers to court protection, a managing partner of Arzinger law firm, Serhiy Shkliar, told Interfax-Ukraine.

KIEV, Nov. 25 – The Transport and Communications Ministry plans to increase the tariffs for cargo shipment by rail by 16% in 2011.

The draft decree on the changes in the coefficients applied to the tariff collection adopted in spring 2009 has been posted on the ministry's Web site.

KIEV, Nov. 26 – The deficit of Ukraine's balance of payments in October came to $578 million, while in September its surplus was $1.241 billion, the National Bank of Ukraine said in a posting on its Web site.

LONDON, Nov. 26 - Despite the common origins of the Russian and Ukrainian steel sectors, their fortunes have diverged widely since companies underwent privatization back in the 1990s post-Soviet era, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said in report titled "Russian And Ukrainian Steel Sectors: Performance In Russia Forges Ahead, Outstripping The Ukraine."

KIEV, Nov. 27 - The settlement of relations between Naftogaz Ukrayiny and the State Tax Administration of Ukraine (STAU) will not affect timely and full fulfillment of the company's liabilities to partners and investors, said Naftogaz Ukrayiny head Yevhen Bakulin.

KIEV, Nov. 27 - Dnipropetrovsk-based Ukrkoks Ukrainian scientific and industrial association has forecast further shortages of coke for domestic steel mills due to the growing deficit of coking coal extraction.

KIEV, Nov. 28 - Real GDP in Ukraine will grow 7% this year and 6.5% in 2008, the Fitch rating agency forecasts.

Positive factors influencing the situation in Ukraine include strong economic growth, a low state debt and rapidly growing reserves, according to materials presented Tuesday at a conference in Kiev organized by Fitch.