KIEV, Dec. 23 – The president’s replacement of the National Bank of Ukraine governor could lead to changes in the policy of the central bank in the future, although it would not considerably affect the hryvnia exchange rate in the short-term outlook, according to bankers.

KIEV, Dec. 23 – The National Bank of Ukraine would stick to the supporting of the stability on the financial market and carry out balanced actions in the regulatory sphere after the replacement of the NBU governor, Valeriy Lytvytsky, the head of the group of advisors to the NBU governor, said.

KIEV, Dec. 23 – The National Bank of Ukraine in December bought $300 million on the interbank currency market, and since early 2009 the NBU spent $10.836 billion to support the hryvnia, Valeriy Lytvytsky, the head of the group of advisors to the governor of the National Bank of Ukraine said.

KIEV, Dec. 23 – Russian gas giant Gazprom on Tuesday agreed to extend by four days the deadline allowing Naftogaz Ukrayiny to make the next payment for natural gas imports by January 11.

The decision means there will be no gas disputes between Gazprom and Naftogaz – and no European gas supply disruptions – at least through January 11.

KIEV, Dec. 22 – Real gross domestic product in Ukraine in 2009 will be 13.5-14.5% lower than 2008, says Valeriy Lytvytsky, the head of the group of advisors to the National Bank of Ukraine governor.

"Only Lithuania [among European countries] is projected to experience a steeper decline," he said.

KIEV, Dec. 22 – EnergoAtom National Nuclear Generating Company and China's CGNPC Corporation have initialed a memorandum on mutual understanding which will be the basis for cooperation between the companies, EnergoAtom reported. The company said that the memo will be signed in January 2010.

KIEV, Dec. 22 - Ukrenergy Holding AG (Zurich, Switzerland), a joint venture of Ukrinterenergo state company and Korlea Invest Holding AG, has prolonged a contract on electricity supply to the Hungarian subdivision of Audi car concern - Audi Hungaria Motor Kft. (Gyor, Hungary) until 2012, the board chairman of Korlea Invest Holding, Vasyl Danyliv.

KIEV, Dec. 22 – The revenue target of the general fund of Ukraine's national budget in 2009 could be short by UAH 34 billion, or some 19%, according to the Ukrainian presidential secretariat.

KIEV, Dec. 22 - Fitch Ratings has affirmed the city of Kiev’s ratings at Long-term foreign and local currency ratings of 'B+' and a Short-term foreign currency rating of 'B.’

Fitch also affirmed Kiev's National Long-term rating of 'AA+(ukr)'. The Outlooks for the Foreign and Local Long-term ratings are Negative and the National Long-term rating Stable.

KIEV, Dec. 22 – The PFTS index is likely will remain volatile with a positive direction, according to an analytical report posted on the official Web site of the National Bank of Ukraine .

"The political stabilization and privatization of electricity generating companies declared for next year will help to do this," reads the report.