News: Thursday, May 17, 2012 -- Issue 1518 
Article of the Day
Ex-Soviet leaders gather for CSTO, CIS summits in Moscow
Leaders of two Kremlin-led organizations held back-to-back summits in Moscow on Tuesday.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) was the first to kick off in the Russian capital.
The summit was called to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its formation and 20 years since the treaty was signed.
The UN-recognized CSTO is a military-political bloc comprising Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Armenia.
Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who stayed away from many previous CSTO meetings, was due to participate in this one, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted both the CSTO summit and the following CIS leader’s informal meeting.
“We share a common approach toward the questions of international and regional safety,” the Moscow Times news agency reported Putin as saying in his opening remarks.
“I am sure that the role of the Collective Security Treaty Organization will increase.”
The CIS event would have a loose agenda, although “much attention will be given to the deepening of economic integration of the commonwealth space,” RFE/RL cited the Kremlin press service as saying.
The CIS is an informal association of 11 countries formed shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, consisting of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Turkmenistan is chairman of the CIS this year, Universal Newswires states.
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Kazakhstan General
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...Astana Man?
By Charles Dameron
Every Metropolis needs its Superman, every Gotham its Batman. And now, it seems, officials in the Kazakh capital, Astana, want their own superhero to ...
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Nazarbayev compliments Belarus for its clean villages and roads
“Belarus is our strategic partner, and a close friend and ally, especially since we are members of the Common Economic Space (CES) and the Customs Union ...
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Nazarbayev congratulates Putin on inauguration
By Renat Tashkinbayev
Nursultan Nazarbayev took part in the session of the Collective Security Council (CSC) of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Moscow, Tengrinews.kz reports ...
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Oil and Gas Sector
KazMunaiGas EP posts very strong quarter
KazMunaiGas EP has finally delivered an outstanding quarter, with EBITDA rising to $745 mln in 1Q12, up 18% y-o-y despite a nearly 9% drop in oil ...
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KazMunaiGas intends to attract partners for new exploration
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- ASTANA, Kazakhstan -- KazMunaiGas is going to attract partners for new exploration, President of KazMunaiGas Lyazzat Kiinov said at a ...
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EU may back Trans-Caspian pipeline with good amount of funding
The EU is ready to finance a good part of the Trans-Caspian pipeline project, envisaged as helping the energy-hungry continent lessen its dependence on Russian gas ...
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Abuse claims swamp Kazakh oil riot trial
By Rayhan Demytrie and Shodiyor Eshaev
On a near empty square surrounded by drab apartment buildings, the setting for Kazakhstan's most important trial is low key.
The court ...
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Kyrgyzstan will pay gas debts to Kazakhstan by end of spring
“Kyrgyzgas will pay all the current debts to Kazakhstan of $2 million by May 25,” Sapar Issakov, head of foreign policy and deputy head of Kyrgyzstan's ...
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Huge finds make East Africa next big gas source
Western companies announced finds of huge additional quantities of gas off the coast of Mozambique and Tanzania, cementing the future of East Africa as a major ...
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Lower oil prices ease load on consumers and Obama
What only weeks ago was seen as a serious threat to the economic recovery could now turn into a stimulus everyone can love.
Oil and gasoline prices ...
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Finance and Investment
History and future of Kazakh-US cooperation to be reviewed in Astana
By D. Mukhtarov
A major international conference called -- Kazakhstan - US: 20 years of partnership in the name of security and development, will be held at ...
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Kazakhtelecom retreats most ever as dividend date passes
By Nariman Gizitdinov and Ksenia Galouchko
AO Kazakhtelecom (KZTK) plunged the most since it was listed as the shares traded without the right to collect a record ...
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Centercredit buys back $145 million of bonds to reduce liquidity
By Nariman Gizitdinov
Bank Centercredit (CCBN), the Kazakh lender part-owned by South Korea’s Kookmin Bank, bought back about $145 million of its bonds due 2014.
Centercredit purchased ...
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Ablyazov Can Appeal 22 Month Jail Term
By Jeremy Hodges
Mukhtar Ablyazov, the former chairman of Kazakhstan’s BTA Bank JSC (BTAS), can appeal a London court’s decision to sentence him to 22 months ...
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Lukashenka offers Belarusian enterprises
President Lukashenka of Belarus has invited Kazakh capital to participate in the processes of privatization of Belarusian enterprises.
“We expect that the new conditions would considerably ...
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Metals and Minerals
ArcelorMittal Temirtau slows production after fire
A fire in the ArcelorMittal Temirtau steelmaking unit on Tuesday killed two workers, the company said in a statement.
The blaze – located in the sinter plant ...
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Trade and Consumer Goods
UAE, Kazakhstan ink customs pact
The customs authorities of Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates inked a bilateral pact on Monday during a visit of the Kazakh Customs Control Committee to ...
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Communications and Transportation
Central Asian-Iran rail developers form tripartite committee
The heads of the railway firms of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran agreed Wednesday to establish a tripartite railway committee, Kazakhstan Railways said.
State-controlled National railway company Kazakhstan ...
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Education
Astana celebrates International Day of Families
Astana has celebrated the International Day of Families. The event was held as part of the Future Starts Today nationwide campaign.
Professional educators and psychologists provided ...
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Pharmaceutical and Healthcare News
Israeli doctors save lives of 26 Kazakh children
From May 16 to 30, doctors from Israel will work in East Kazakhstan. Their visit has been organized under the memorandum signed between the oblast and ...
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Almaty hosts first Eurasian Congress of Rheumatology
The First Eurasian Congress of Rheumatology has brought together 15 delegations from the CIS and foreign countries in Almaty.
Leading experts came together to develop innovative ...
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Regional News
Russia's protest movement shows staying power, despite today's dispersal
By Fred Wei
Moscow police moved in today to shut down the little "democracy preserve" set up 10 days ago in a downtown park near Chistye Prudi ...
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Uzbekistan plans sale of 500 state assets
The former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan hopes to sell 500 state assets over the next two years in a quick privatization drive, a senior official said ...
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Kyrgyzstan and democracy: citizens' views clarified
Kyrgyzstan has experienced two riots in five years. The first one, called the “Tulip Revolution,” overthrew Kyrgyzstan’s first president Askar Akayev in 2005. The second took ...
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Anti-China mood threatens trade
By Fozil Mashrab
Bishkek's relations with Beijing have never been easy since Kyrgyzstan gained its independence in 1991.
Trade and investment cooperation push Kyrgyzstan and China ...
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Tethys expands investments in Uzbekistan
Tethys Petroleum, an oil and gas firm with a focus on Central Asia, said Wednesday it has gained a new oil field in Uzbekistan.
The Chegara field, ...
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Tajik Air to launch Dushanbe-Islamabad flights
Tajik flag carrier Tajik Air will initiate regular flights from the Tajik capital Dushanbe to the Pakistani capital Islamabad later this month, the Tajik ambassador to ...
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Prices and Statistics
Volume and Share Index by Visor Capital
Date: May 17, 2012; Source: Visor Capital
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Market Movers by Visor Capital
Date: May 17, 2012; Source: Visor Capital
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Oil and Gas Prices
Date: May 17, 2011; Source: Bloomberg.com
| Petroleum
($/bbl) |
|
Price* |
Change |
%Change |
Time |
| Nymex Crude Future |
93.57
|
0.76
|
0.82
|
01:34 |
| Dated Brent Spot |
110.69 |
0.43 |
0.39
|
01:46 |
| WTI Cushing Spot |
92.81 |
-1.17 |
-1.24
|
05/16 |
| Petroleum
(cent/gal) |
|
Price* |
Change |
%Change |
Time |
| Nymex Heating Oil Future |
289.60
|
-0.16
|
-0.06 |
01:35
|
| Nymex RBOB Gasoline Future |
291.55
|
-0.54 |
-0.18 |
01:34 |
| Natural gas
($/MMBtu) |
|
Price* |
Change |
%Change |
Time |
| Nymex Henry Hub Future |
2.65 |
0.03 |
1.15 |
01:32 |
| Henry Hub Spot |
2.50 |
0.10 |
4.17 |
05/16 |
| New York City Gate Spot |
2.64
|
0.15
|
6.02 |
05/16
|
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Commodities
Date: May 17, 2012; Source: Bloomberg.com
| Commodity |
Price |
Change |
%Change |
Time |
| COPPER FUTURE (USd/lb.) |
351.850 |
4.050 |
1.16 |
01:40 |
| GOLD 100 OZ FUTR (USD/t oz.) |
1,550.200
|
13.600
|
0.89
|
01:39 |
| SILVER FUTURE (USD/t oz.) |
27.665 |
0.469
|
1.72
|
01:40 |
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Metal Prices
Date: May 17, 2012; Source: Kitco.com
| Silver |
27.69 |
+0.42 |
| Platinum |
1447.00
|
+17.00
|
| Palladium |
604.00
|
+12.00
|
| Rhodium |
1,325.00 |
0.00
|
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Exchange rates
Date: May 17, 2012; Source: the National Bank of Kazakhstan
| 1 USD |
KZT 147.94 |
1 CHF |
KZT 156.63 |
1 CNY |
KZT 23.40 |
1 TRY |
KZT 80.93 |
10 JPY |
KZT 1.84 |
| 1 EUR |
KZT 188.09 |
1 AUD |
KZT 146.59 |
1 KGS |
KZT 3.14 |
1 UZS |
KZT 0.08 |
1 BYR |
KZT 0.02 |
| 1 GBP |
KZT 236.05 |
1 CAD |
KZT 146.45 |
1 RUB |
KZT 4.77 |
1 KRW |
KZT 12.67 |
1 UAH |
KZT 18.38 |
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