Ukraine steps up hard currency controls to support currency

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's central bank stepped up controls on banks' access to foreign currency on Wednesday to try to stem the collapse of the hryvnia, preventing them from buying any for clients this week and limiting what they could buy for themselves.

The bank said in a statement that banks would not be able to buy foreign currency for clients "until 27 February 2015 inclusive" and that banks would only be allowed to buy foreign currency up to 0.5 percent of their regulatory capital.