•Survival of the winter grain crop was not threatened by the European cold snap that affected Ukraine in recent days, UkrAgroConsult reported. Temperatures at the tillering node depth did not drop critically low because the snow cover is thick enough to protect the crop. Furthermore, harsh frosts in Ukraine lasted only three days.

•Ukraine endorsed continuation of a $3.7 billion loan from China Development Bank Corp. to Naftogaz through Dec. 25, Unian reported.

•On Saturday and Sunday, a Ukrainian delegation will leave for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to participate in the convention of the International Renewable Energy Agency, where global energy leaders will gather to discuss the future of renewable energy, Ukrinform reported. Serhiy Savchuk will present prospects for Ukrainian cooperation with IRENA counties and Ukraine's investment potential for renewable energy.

•The World Bank held steady on its forecast for Ukraine's economic growth over the next three years, meaning the country is predicted to experience 2 percent GDP growth this year and 3 percent growth each of the next two years, Ukrinform reported. The World Bank also noted Ukraine's progress in making reforms, particularly in the areas of public finance, debt management, energy and banking.

•Ukraine's share of the earnings of the Russian book market have shrunk to a minuscule 2 percent, Kommersant reported in news picked up by Novoe Vremya. In the early 1990s, Ukraine accounted for almost 30 percent of book sales in the Russian market, but in more recent times, the figure dropped to about 8 percent.

•The National Bank of Ukraine added Platinum Bank, the country's 22nd-largest by assets, to the list of insolvent banks, Interfax Ukraine reported. The National Bank said 97 percent of Platinum Bank's depositors, or 197,000 people, will get back their deposits in full. Also, Unian reported that the National Bank may declare 10 to 15 banks insolvent this year.

•Ukraine's exports of titanium ore and concentrate rose 57 percent year on year to 463.4 million tons in the January-December period from 295 million tons in 2015, the state customs service reported Tuesday, according to Platts. Revenues from exports of titanium rose to $84 million from $72 million in 2015, the customs service said.

•In 2016, Ukraine exported $ 6.8 million more worth of tomatoes than in 2015, a 65 percent increase, Latifundist.com reported, citing the State Fiscal Service. Most Ukrainian tomatoes, over 94 percent, were exported to Belarus and Poland.

•Sales of new buses in Ukraine doubled in 2016 from 2015, according to Ukravtoprom, as reported by Unian. Russia-based Pavlovo, which manufactures PAZ buses, accounted for the largest share on the Ukrainian bus market last year, at 31 percent. Ukrainian firms Cherkasy and Ruta were second and third respectively.

•The State Property Fund decided to privatize the Black Sea Shipping Co., according to Novoe Vremya. An initial estimate in September calculated the company's assets at $6.6 million. A follow-up put the value at just over $3 million.

For comments and news tips, please email UBJ AM editor David Edwards at david.edwards@theubj.com.