October 30 2017 trading report www.mse.mn

On October 30, 2017, 354,930 shares of 22 firms listed as Tier I, II, and III were traded. 7 firms’ shares increased in price, 12 decreased and 3 remained unchanged. Gobi JSC /GOV/ was the top performer, increasing 4.73 percent, whereas Mongol Post JSC /MNP/ was the worst performer, decreasing 13.56 percent.

Glencore raises marketing guidance, lowers output www.mining.com

LONDON, Oct 30 (Reuters) – Glencore on Monday cut its output forecast for core commodities including zinc, but raised its marketing division’s full-year earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to between $2.6 billion and $2.8 billion, reflecting higher raw materials prices.

Mongolia and Russia to intensify border cooperation www.montsame.mn

Mongolia to accelerate joint projects with China www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Deputy Prime Minister U.Enkhtuvshin exchanged views on the Mongolia-China relations and cooperation with Xing Haiming, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic China to Mongolia, on October 30.

MSE share capital goes up www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The Financial Regulatory Commission (FRC) has raised the share capital of the Mongolian Stock Exchange JSC by MNT20 billion and made changes to the securities registration.

IMF Reaches Staff-Level Agreement on the First and Second Reviews of Mongolia’s Extended Fund Facility www.imf.org

Mongolia’s economy is recovering and GDP growth is now projected at 3.3 percent this year and 4.2 percent in 2018, reflecting buoyant external conditions and improving confidence. Key targets have been achieved.

Important structural reforms are underway to lay the foundations for long-term growth and break the boom-bust cycle. The key near-term focus is supporting the authorities’ policies to strengthen the banking sector and enhance fiscal policy making.
The IMF welcomes the authorities’ commitment to continue the reform momentum to cement the long-term benefits.
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team led by Mr. Geoff Gottlieb visited Ulaanbaatar from October 18-30, 2017 to conduct discussions on the first and second reviews of the three-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement approved on May 24, 2017, in an amount equivalent to SDR 314.5054 million, or about US$434.3 million (see Press Release No. 17/193).

At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Gottlieb made the following statement:

“The economy is growing more strongly than expected, with GDP growth likely to reach at least 3.3 percent this year on the back of strong coal exports, a robust recovery in services, and a return of confidence following the approval of the $5.5 billion IMF-supported package. Growth is expected to become more broad-based in 2018 as the domestic economy revives, but there are downside risks to the coal sector.

“Performance under the program has been positive, with all quantitative targets met. Fiscal results have been better than expected, supported by stronger revenues and tight expenditure control. The overall fiscal deficit is likely to be 7.5 percent of GDP this year compared to 17 percent in 2016. The authorities’ proposed 2018 budget is in line with the revised program that envisages a deficit of 6.5 percent of GDP. The authorities have committed to save half of any revenue overperformance should it materialize, thus helping to reduce borrowing and ensure debt sustainability. The remainder would be used to fund productive one-off spending in line with the government action plan. Both this year and next, the authorities have allocated a one-time bonus to civil servants. Net international reserves have improved, and the authorities have rolled over the sovereign bonds maturing in 2017 and 2018 at attractive interest rates, removing a key risk to the external position.

“The authorities have moved ahead with their ambitious structural reform agenda, which will help to sustain growth over the medium term, promote diversification and competitiveness, and mitigate the boom-bust cycle. The rehabilitation and strengthening of the banking system is underway: the results of the comprehensive Asset Quality Review are expected in mid-December; important legal reforms are being drafted to strengthen the financial system; and improvements to the regulatory and supervisory framework are under way.

“On the fiscal side, steady progress is being made in strengthening tax administration, tax policy, and budgetary controls, including through the establishment of a fiscal council and a high-level working group on tax policy. It is important that the reform momentum is maintained in 2018 to cement the long-term benefits of such policies on promoting inclusive and sustainable growth. In this regard, it is encouraging that the commitment of the new government to the program policies remains strong.

“The authorities and the team have reached staff-level agreement on the completion of the first and second reviews under the EFF arrangement, which is subject to the approval of the IMF Executive Board.

“The team thanks the authorities for their cooperation, constructive dialogue, and hospitality during its stay in Mongolia.”

Camel caravan embarked www.montsame.mn

A Mongolian woman B.Baigalmaa is ready to fulfill her life-time dream of an epic adventure. An opening of her camel caravan “Steppes to the West” was held on October 29 at Sukhbaatar Square.

South Korea's Lotte Corp soars in debut on investor hopes for better returns www.reuters.com

SEOUL (Reuters) - Shares in Lotte Corp, the new holding company for South Korea’s No. 5 conglomerate, soared some 45 percent on their debut above their issue price, bolstered by hopes for better corporate governance and shareholder returns.

Mongolia-EU relations enter new phase www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ EU-Mongolia relations are entering a new phase with the opening of a Delegation of the European Union (the equivalent of an embassy for the EU) in Ulaanbaatar, and the entry into force of the EU-Mongolia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, said a press release issued by the EU on October 27.

Against this backdrop, the EU Ambassador to Mongolia Hans Dietmar Schweisgut will lead a group of more than twenty ambassadors and senior European diplomats from EU Member States to Mongolia to meet with the country's political leaders as well as representatives of civil society.

"This visit takes place at a timely moment: a new Government is in place, we open an EU Delegation, and the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement enters into force. I am looking forward to discuss with the new leadership of Mongolia how to take our relations to a new level. Now all conditions are in place to step up our political dialogue and cooperation, and to further strengthen our partnership.The EU and Mongolia share many common values: respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law are the foundation of our relationship," Ambassador Schweisgut said.

The EU Ambassador, together with over 20 ambassadors and senior diplomats from EU Member States come to Ulaanbaatar for their annual meeting with the Mongolian leadership. The objective of these meetings is to take stock of relations between the EU and Mongolia, and to discuss how to strengthen, promote and extend the scope of cooperation between the parties. The visit will also offer an early opportunity to discuss how the EU and its Member States, together with Mongolia, start implementing the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. We have already made some progress with the first EU-Mongolia Human Rights Dialogue held in March this year. The EU is also looking into possibilities to enhance trade relations, and will discuss Mongolian ideas on how best to assist Mongolia's businesses to better use the EU's GSP+ (Generalised Scheme of Preferences – an EU policy allowing developing countries to pay fewer or no duties on exports to the EU, giving them vital access to the EU market and contributing to their growth). The EU provides development assistance to support Mongolia's authorities in implementing structural economic reforms.

On 1 November 2017, the EU-Mongolia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) will enter into force. It provides the EU and its Member States on the one hand and Mongolia on the other with a general framework for expanding their bilateral relations. Its implementation will strengthen political, economic and sectoral cooperation across a wide range of policy fields. It is an expression of our mutual commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation.

The EU Ambassador will also sign the Establishment Agreement that will allow the European Union to open its Delegation in Ulaanbaatar. The Delegation will strengthen the EU's relationship with Mongolia, and is a sign of the EU's long-term commitment to the people of the country.

Xanadu Mines drills high-grade copper below current resource in Mongolia www.proactiveinvestors.com.au

Xanadu Mines Ltd (ASX:XAM) has successfully drilled extensions of high-grade copper along strike and below the current resource at the Stockwork Hill deposit within the Kharmagtai project in Mongolia.