KIEV, March 22 ??“ The level of payments of heat supply companies to Gaz Ukrainy for consumed natural gas as of March 20 was 52%, the company's press service reported on Wednesday.

KIEV, March 22 ??“ The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is elaborating a number of joint projects for Ukraine's coal industry.

BUDAPEST, March 22 - Hungary's top steel manufacturer Dunaferr Zrt, owned by a consortium of Ukraine's Industrial Union of Donbas and Swiss trading firm Duferco International, announced plans on Thursday to triple investments in Hungary.

KIEV, March 22 ??“ Pravex Bank, which is owned by Kiev Mayor Leonid Chernovetskiy, will increase its statutory capital by 68% to UAH 371.5 million, via an additional issue of shares.

KIEV, March 22 ??“ Ukraine will stay away from building new oil refineries if oil companies move to upgrade existing refineries to make sure they produce high-quality gasoline, Naftogaz Ukrayiny chairman Oleksiy Ivchenko said.

MOSCOW, March 22 - IKEA Group, a fast growing low-price Swedish furniture company, has been planning to open six big shopping centers throughout Ukraine, a newswire reported citing a company official.

KIEV. March 21 - Fitch Ratings assigned Ukraine-based Khreschatyk Bank ratings of Long-term 'B'; Short-term 'B'; Individual 'D/E'; and Support '4'. The Outlook is Stable, the agency announced, according to Interfax-Ukraine.

KIEV, March 21 - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services raised its long-term corporate credit and senior unsecured debt ratings on Ukrainian mobile telecommunications operator Kyivstar GSM to 'B+' from 'B', the agency said in a press release carried by Interax-Ukraine. The outlook is stable.

KIEV, March 21 ??“ System Capital Management, Ukraine??™s major privately held steel and machinery group, said Monday it submitted a bid for 99% stake in Vitkovice Steel, the only steelmaker in the Czech Republic.

KIEV, March 22 ??“ Libya is ready to import 300,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat and barley, the Agriculture Ministry reported following talks in Libya on March 17-18.