The official rate of the Belarusian ruble against a basket of foreign currencies, set by the National Bank on April 25, has come close to the boundaries of the corridor set by the authorities within + / -8%. According to National Bank since the beginning of the year the ruble to a basket of currencies fell to 7.99%.
The official dollar rate has been set at Br3.048 for April 25. It has fallen by 0.13% against the previous ruble rate, and by 1.6% since the beginning of the year. The Belarusian ruble has also depreciated by 0.13% against the Russian currency — the course has been set at Br109.09.
At the same time, the Belarusian ruble has appreciated by 0.22% against the euro compared with the previous rate, and has amounted to Br4 443.98. Meanwhile, the official euro exchange rate, established by the National Bank of Belarus on April 22 (Br4 453.98), is a record since the beginning of the year. Devaluation of the Belarusian ruble against the euro has amounted to 11.87% compared with January 1, 2011.
Meanwhile, the dollar exchange rate in Belarusian banks differs from the official rate of the National Bank. April 21, MTBank bought dollars by wire transfer at the rate of Br5.000. Currency exchange in cash in the majority of Belarusian banks is at the rate not exceeding the 2% threshold, recommended by the National Bank with respect to the dollar exchange rate.
The dollar rate ranges from Br3.500 to Br5.000 on the automotive markets. The dollar exchange rate also varies significantly in shops: from Br3.500 to Br4.000 per dollar. So does the course of electronic money: 1 WMZ can be purchased for 3950 — 4150 WMB, a WME — for 5555 — 6270 WMB.
On the background of the currency rush, resulted in the almost complete absence of currency in exchange offices, there have appeared the Internet sites, acting as intermediaries in foreign exchange transactions. The site owners do not buy the currency, but provide a platform for individuals and legal entities, willing to buy or sell some currency. Here, the dollar ranged from Br3.555 to Br4.600, euro — Br5.200 — Br6.700.
As a rule, users of the site are invited to enter transactions by bank transfer and between legal entities not to be subjected to additional risks, while individuals are invited to post requests for bank representatives, or to contract by the preliminary agreement in exchange offices.
Meanwhile, as Telegraf previously reported, police urge citizens not to buy currency at unknown locations from speculators in foreign currency, since it entails an administrative penalty. According to Part 1 Article 11.2 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offences, violation of established procedure for conducting foreign exchange transactions, i.e. buying, selling, exchanging foreign currency without a special license, stipulates a fine of from 50 to 300 basic units (Br1.75 million — Br10.5 million) with confiscation of the currency.
