Markets

Ukraine's hryvnia hits 4-year low; CDS rise

Published January 22, 2014 Updated January 22, 2014 09:38am

LONDON: Ukraine's hryvnia currency hit its lowest level against the dollar since October 2009 on Wednesday and debt insurance costs rose as a new wave of anti-government protests spread in the capital Kiev.

Two demonstrators were reported killed on Wednesday . Protestors have been out in the streets for weeks, angered by President Viktor Yanukovich's decision to shun a trade pact with the European Union and instead accept financial aid from Russia.

The hryvnia fell 0.5 percent on the day to 8.44 per dollar . Ukraine's 5-year credit default swaps rose 42 basis points from Tuesday's close to a one-month high of 788 bps, according to Markit.

Prices of Ukraine's 2023 and 2014 sovereign bonds both fell.

Ukraine's yield spreads widened 6 basis points on the EMBI Global sovereign dollar bond index, contrasting with a 2 bps contraction in the broader index.