DUSHANBE, October 31, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The value of the Tajik national currency, the somoni (TJS), has continued to depreciate against the U.S. dollar, registering an average market purchase rate of the dollar against the somoni 1:5.176 on October 30, up from 1:5.164 on October 24.

Tajik central bank notes that on October 30 the highest market purchase rate between USD and TJS was reported in Dushanbe – 1:5.216

In Dushanbe, the market exchange rate between USD and TJS rose from 1:5.19 on October 24 to 1:5.216 on October 30.

In Khujand, the capital of Sughd province the market exchange rate between USD and TJS rose from 1:5.2 on October 24 to 1:5.215 on October 30.

In Qurghon Teppa, the capital of Khatlon province the market exchange rate between USD and TJS remained the same – 1:5.2.

In Kulob (Khatlon province), the market exchange rate between USD and TJS rose from 1:5.18 on October 24 to 1:5.2 on October 30.

In Khorog, the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), the market exchange rate between USD and TJS remained the same – 1:5.05. 

Meanwhile, an official exchange rate between USD and TJS set by the National Bank of Tajikistan rose from 1:4.9935 on October 24 to 1:5.035 on October 31.

The World Bank report, Tajikistan: Moderated Growth, Heightened Risks , notes that supported by Tajik central bank’s interventions, the Tajik national currency, the somoni, depreciated less than other regional currencies, but the scope for interventions is limited because reserves are low.  The somoni had depreciated against the U.S. dollar by about 4.6 percent by mid-September 2014 (y/y).  Continued weakening of regional currencies will heighten the pressure on somoni, the report says.