KIEV, July 29 – The hryvnia will continue weakening under the pressure of payments of foreign loans, payments for imported gas and the devaluation expectations of the public, but the National Bank of Ukraine could impact the pace of the fall in the exchange rate, according to bankers polled by Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

"The market expected a hryvnia devaluation, but not such a swift one. I think that the weakening of the exchange rate will stop at UAH 8.3/$1, but in the future I don't rule out a further weakening to UAH 9/$1. The devaluation is linked with large payments on foreign loans. The public tries to convert hryvnias into foreign currency with any signs of instability strengthening the trend," deputy board chairman of Kiev-based BM Bank, Taras Kyiak said.