Kazakhstan’s gold and foreign exchange reserves rose by $2.2 billion in May to $36.5 billion as of June 1, Aliya Moldabekova, National Bank’s deputy chairman, said.

“The growth was stimulated by an increase in the gold portfolio by $1.9 billion,” she told reporters.

Gold price increased by 7 percent in May to $1,892 from $1,769 per ounce.

The share of gold in the national reserves reached 67.7 percent. The bank’s currency assets increased by $311 million last month.