In April 2012, foreign exchange supply exceeded demand for foreign exchange in the interbank foreign exchange market for the first time since September 2011.

Net foreign exchange inflows from non-residents, which reached USD 1.7 billion (in the equivalent) in April, fueled an increase in foreign exchange supply and helped reduce net demand for foreign exchange 2.6 times, compared with March. 

Under these conditions, the National Bank of Ukraine intervened by purchasing foreign exchange in the interbank foreign exchange market. The foreign exchange interventions showed a surplus of USD 303.5 million (in the equivalent).

It fueled a 1.7 % rise in the international reserves in April, which exceeded USD 31 660 million (in the equivalent).

No sharp fluctuations in the hryvnia exchange rate were recorded in April. The hryvnia weakened against the US dollar by 0.05 % to UAH 8.0354 per USD 1 in the cashless segment of the interbank foreign exchange market of Ukraine. The hryvnia firmed against the US dollar by 0.03 % to UAH 8.0405 per USD 1 in the cash foreign exchange market.

In April, the official UAH/USD exchange rate dropped by 0.04 % to UAH 7.9899 per USD 1. The hryvnia appreciated against the euro and Russian ruble by 0.28 % (to UAH 10.5698 per EUR1) and by 0.43 % (to UAH 2.7155 per RUR 10) respectively.