Banks are already setting exchange rates above UAH 40/$. The foreign exchange market is witnessing a new appreciation of the dollar. Last week, the interbank rate on the Bloomberg platform (main) rose from UAH 38.80/$ to UAH 39.45, and this Monday, trading started at UAH 39.47/$. Already by noon, quotations reached UAH 39.50/$, and trading closed at UAH 39.61/$.
Against this background, the official hryvnia/dollar rate jumped by 17 kopecks today, and the National Bank set it for tomorrow, April 16, at 39.5737 hryvnia/$ - a new historical maximum. For comparison: last Tuesday, April 9, the official price was UAH 38.99/$.
The volume of trading on Bloomberg today was little changed compared to Friday – it was $161.3 million against $160 million. However, foreign currency sales of the NBU itself from foreign exchange reserves increased significantly, on Monday they were estimated at a level of slightly less than $100 million, which is higher than the average figure last week in $75 million. In total, from April 8 to 12, the National Bank, according to the official report, had to throw out $378.3 million to the interbank.
This is considered the main reason for the increase in the price of the American currency - the growing sales of the NBU from gold and foreign reserves, although at the same time some pressure on the regulator is not excluded.
"Everyone knows that the National Bank remains the key foreign exchange seller on the interbank, daily calculating the exchange rate of its dollar sales according to its internal (secret) formula, which is directly linked to the volume of its sales from reserves. Sold more - raised the dollar higher and vice versa. This ensures a kind of market and exchange rate flexibility. Plus, they say that from time to time the authorities ask the NBU to gradually devalue the hryvnia, which is necessary for a more profitable conversion of international aid. Everyone remembers that the state budget for 2024 included an average annual exchange rate of UAH 40.7/$, and it is clear that we will reach it. Not now, maybe in the second half of the year," the treasury director of a large bank told "Strane".
Along with the interbank rate, the black market rate also rose. It opened with sales of UAH 39.43/$, at its peak it reached UAH 39.73/$, and by the evening it fell to UAH 39.68/$.
At bank counters, the dollar rose in price by 15-20 kopecks today. The maximum selling rates reached UAH 39.65-39.99/$, set by MetaBank, Kominbank and A-Bank. The averages were in the range of 39.65-39.95 UAH/$, and the minimum was 39.60 UAH/$ (PUIB, Bank Pivdenny, Creditvest Bank). The repurchase rate was in a wide range - UAH 38.65-39.50/$.
Almost all state banks kept average rates. For example, Privatbank placed a purchase/sale within the range of UAH 39.10-39.70/$, Oschadbank – UAH 39.30-39.85/$, although the rates at Sense Bank reached UAH 39.40-39.90/$.
Banks' card exchange rates have overcome the 40th psychological level, although only one bank has done it so far. Specifically, Acordbank set the card selling rate at UAH 40.40/$, and the average range on the market was significant - from UAH 39.20/$ (Ukrsibbank) to UAH 39.99/$ (Kredobank). At the time of redemption, the card rates were in the range of UAH 38.42-39.85/$.
The average dollar selling rate for current accounts of individuals within the monthly limit of UAH 50,000 with the right of instant withdrawal reached UAH 39.4/$ (including additional commissions). The minimum price here was at the level of UAH 39.24/$ (Ukrainian Capital Bank), and the maximum was UAH 40.54/$ (Avangard Bank). At the same time, more than 20 banks kept rates above UAH 40/$.
