Kazakhstan’s annual inflation rose to 10.7% in April, from 10.0% in March, primarily driven by food and services prices. The next central bank policy meeting is set for 5 June. Further, the NBK has announced it will sell between USD 950 mln and 1.05 bln of hard currency in May, a similar amount to April. In April, the central bank also sold USD 415 mln to sterilize gold purchases, quasi-sovereigns sold USD 308 mln, and the state pension fund bough USD 250 mln of hard currency.