In the 9 months of 2004, the Lutsk Automobile Plant produced marketable products in current prices worth UAH 297 million 415.2 thousand. Compared to the corresponding period last year, the growth rate for output was 153.7 percent.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, the price of oil reached a level of $53.31. Thus, in a day the increase amounted to 31 cents, and in a week - $3. \nAirlines and road carriers are forced to raise prices.

At the enterprises of SE "Volynvuhillia," over 349,000 tons of coal were extracted in the 9 months of 2004, which is 13,000 tons more than during the corresponding period last year. This was reported at SE "Volynvuhillia."\nThe coal extraction plan at SE "Volynvuhillia" for the reporting period was fulfilled at 85.

The National Bank of Ukraine today presented a new 1-hryvnia banknote and coin.

The National Bank has decided to introduce 1-hryvnia banknotes of the 2004 model into circulation starting December 1. This is stated in the NBU resolution "On Introducing 1-Hryvnia Banknotes of the 2004 Model into Circulation" dated September 29, reports "Ukrainian News.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has canceled the ban on nighttime passenger road transportation in Ukraine.

The National Bank decided to restrain the growth of the cash dollar purchase rate at exchange offices at a maximum of 5.40 UAH/USD. \nThis was stated by the acting head of the NBU, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, on the air of the "Business World" program on the First National TV channel.

The international magazine Institutional Investor’s, authoritative in the financial world, published a credit rating of the world's countries at the end of September. Over half a year, from March 2004, Ukraine rose six positions in this rating: from 86th to 80th place. In total, the rating includes 173 countries.

NEW YORK, October 2 / RIA "Novosti" Andrey Loshchilin /. For the first time in history, oil trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange ended at a mark exceeding $50 per barrel. On Friday, the closing price there was $50.12, which is 48 cents more than the corresponding figure on Thursday.

The National Bank may start developing the design of 500-hryvnia banknotes next year. This was reported to journalists by Vitaliy Bilorus, head of the NBU's department of expertise, currency protection and numismatics, according to "Ukrainian News.