Daily Insight-Hryvnia steady, stocks off, banking system in focus

On Thursday, the hryvnia held steady on the Ukrainian FX market, opening, according to UkrDealing, at 7.92-7.925/USD, the same rate as Wednesday\'s close, and closing at the same rate, with the strongest point reached during the day at 7.9180-7.9255/USD. The NBU again bought dollars at the rate of 7.925/USD and maintained its official exchange rate at 7.9259/USD for Thursday. The hryvnia appreciated on the cash FX market, trading at 7.8888/USD for bid offers at the domestic interchange stations, and 7.9325/USD on ask offers. Ukraine\'s stock markets fell again on Thursday, with the PFTS index moving down 4.35% to 948.79 points, and the UX stock exchange down 3.69%, to 2,318.43 points. Total turnover on the PFTS was down from Wednesday\'s level, at US$29.5m (UAH233.9m), with the share of equity comprising 2.1% of the total, and state bonds representing 97.90%. The total amount of securities traded on the UX stock exchange was also down from Wednesday\'s level, at US$9.6m (UAH76.2m).