KIEV, March 11 – It is reasonable for Ukraine to double domestic gas prices in 2010 and start gradually increasing the pension age, World Bank Country Director for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova Martin Raiser said at a press conference in Kiev on Thursday.

KIEV, March 12 – The restrictions in the currency sphere introduced by the National Bank of Ukraine by resolution No. 762 could lower the investment attractiveness of the country's economy, according to experts from the Credit-Rating agency.

LONDON, March 12 - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has raised its foreign-currency sovereign credit rating on Ukraine to 'B-/C' from 'CCC+/C'

The statement said: "Standard & Poor's also said that it raised its local-currency sovereign credit rating on Ukraine to 'B/B' from 'B-/C'.

KIEV, March 14 ??“ Nemiroff, a big Ukrainian vodka producer, invested $6.6 million into a project to protect its products against counterfeiting, the company reported Wednesday.

KIEV, March 14 ??“ Khreschatyk Bank, Ukraine??™s No. 22 bank by assets, has received the status of a principle member of the Master??ard payment system, according to a bank press release issued on Tuesday.

KIEV, March 14 - OTP Bank, Ukraine??™s No. 8 bank by assets, has cut interest rates in foreign currency on its mortgage crediting programs, according to a bank press service issued on Tuesday.

KIEV, March 14 - Raiffeisen Bank Aval, Ukraine??™s second largest bank by assets, mandated BayernLB, DZ Bank AG, HSBC Bank Plc and Standard Bank Plc to arrange a two-year syndicated loan of $150 million, the bank said.

KIEV, March 14 - The Ukrainian government could enter the foreign borrowing market in May, Deputy Finance Ministry Anatoly Myarkovsky said on Wednesday.

LONDON, March 14 - Ukraine's UkrGazEnergo is in talks with Western banks to raise $1.3 billion in loans and is also in discussions to acquire power-generation assets in countries to the southwest of the former Soviet republic, the company's chairman said.

KIEV, March 14 - Soyuz-Victan Group, a major Ukrainian alcohol producer, plans to issue Eurobonds in 2006 to raise funds for the purchase of its second liquor and vodka distillery in Russia.