KIEV, June 19 - The real effective exchange rate of the Ukrainian national currency, the hryvnia, strengthened by 13.66% in January-May 2008, according to the Economy Ministry.

KIEV, June 19 ??“ Ukraine??™s Anti-Monopoly Committee fined UkrTatNafta, the country??™s largest oil refinery 500,000 hryvnias for overcharging clients while selling jet fuel, the committee said Tuesday.

KIEV, June 19 - Ukraine and the European Union signed a new steel agreement allowing Ukrainian companies to increase exports of steel to the E.U. in 2007, the Economy Ministry reported Tuesday.

KIEV, June 18 - Fitch Ratings has assigned HSBC Bank Plc's upcoming issue of limited recourse loan participation notes an expected Long-term 'B-' (B minus) rating and an expected Recovery Rating 'RR4'.

KIEV, June 18 - Interpipe Nikopol Seamless Pipe Plant Niko Tube and Interpipe Nikopol Pipe Company (both based in Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk region), part of the Interpipe Group, will merge into Interpipe NIKO TUBE Ltd., stockholders in these companies decided at a meeting last week.

KIEV, June 18 ??“ Ukraine??™s second-largest oil refinery, Linos, owned by Russian oil major TNK-BP, has launched in operation a new complex of refinery water purification worth $10 million, the company said Monday.

KIEV, June 16 ??“ ProCredit Bank plans to issue hryvnia-denominated bonds worth up to 175 million hryvnias and raise $30 million in a syndicated loan, ProCredit Bank Vice-Governor Olena Malynska said.

KIEV, June 16 ??“ Forum Bank received permission from the National Bank of the Czech Republic and the National Bank of Ukraine to open a representative office in the Czech Republic, the bank's reported on Friday.

KIEV, June 19 ??“ UkrGazVydobuvannya, Ukraine??™s largest natural gas producer, started development of deep seated natural gas deposits in the Kharkiv region seeking to boost gas output, the company said Monday.

KIEV, June 16 ??“ Ukraine??™s economy will accelerate in the second half of the year, bringing overall GDP growth to between 7% and 8% in 2005, President Viktor Yushchenko said Thursday.