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Myanmar's kyat stabilises after fal



Myanmar's kyat stabilises after fall to record low.

  YANGON, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Myanmar's beleaguered kyat currency has
  stabilised and edged higher against the dollar on the black market after
  diving to record lows in recent weeks amid spiralling inflation, currency
  dealers said on Wednesday.
  "The kyat stopped falling after hitting a floor of 395 to the dollar last 
week
  and is trading at 385/390 at the moment," one dealer said.
  The kyat's fall to its weakest ever levels against the dollar was sparked
  mainly by sharply rising prices of imports and luxury goods, the weakening
  of the Thai baht and by panic buying of some commodities as a hedge
  against inflation.
  Before this month's slide, the previous record low was 384 to the dollar in
  August 1998. The official rate is six kyat to the dollar.
  A commentary in the Myanmar-language Kyemon newspaper earlier this
  month warned against "unscrupulous speculation" and said the authorities
  would take action to bring prices under control.
  Newspapers in Myanmar are regarded as official mouthpieces of the
  regime.
  The Myanmar government increased the salaries of civil servants by five to
  eight times in April to bring them more into line with spiralling prices, but
  the move helped fuel inflation, estimated at around 30 percent a year.
  Prices of common consumer goods have not risen too steeply, residents
  say, due to measures taken by the authorities, including the opening of five
  tax-free markets in Yangon.
  But prices of gold, cars and other imported items have risen sharply.
  Analysts say there was strong demand for these items as a way of guarding
  against inflation and the weakening kyat.
  Prices of low-market reconditioned vans and cars more than doubled in
  the last three months. Myanmar authorities imposed strict regulations on
  cars in late 1997, virtually stopping the flow of passenger cars into the
  country.
  Car prices eased last week after the authorities took action to try to reduce
  demand, locals said.
  Regulations were introduced obliging car buyers to declare the source of
  the money used for the purchase, and enforcing the payment of all taxes
  when car licenses were renewed.
  Myanmar's economy remains tightly controlled despite the introduction of
  some market reforms in 1988 after 26 years of central planning. The
  economy is commodity-based and relies heavily on the export of rice,
  pulses and prawns.