YEREVAN. – Banks purchased $65 million and sold $82 million in interbank foreign exchange market last week, Central Bank of Armenia website reports. To note, it is a low index of financial activity, as compared to last week’s purchase index of $85 million.

Such a decrease is due to the reduction of seasonal transfers. Russian currency also went down, as majority of the transfers are carried out by Russian Rubles. To note, it was RUR 500-550 million per week in January, while the index was twice higher in late 2011. 

Loan market also registered sharp decrease. Banks granted loans in the amount AMD 18.9 billion ($50 million) in Dec., 2011, as opposed to $26.6 million for Jan. 9-15. It was the lowest index during the last 12 months, due exclusively to the state’s economic passive season.