Romanian Leu Closes at 6-Mo Low Vs Euro

"The leu opened at 3.6890/3.6910 per euro and later eased on euro demand and an overall negative trend,” one dealer told SeeNews.

The leu was last traded cheaper at 3.7145 per euro on April 4, central bank’s data showed.

The leu has been caught in the middle of risk aversion and panic on the international markets in the last two weeks following the bank collapses in the U.S. and uncertainty regarding the approval of a $700 million U.S. government bailout plan for the sector.

Romania's central bank, BNR, set its reference exchange rate used for statistical purposes at 3.7028 lei per euro on Monday, compared to 3.6828 lei per euro on Friday. For the U.S. dollar, the reference exchange rate was set at 2.5830 versus Friday’s 2.5254 lei.

Interest rates on overnight leu deposits rose to an average 11.16%/11.66% on Monday, compared to 10.92%/11.42% on Friday.

Turnover on the interbank leu deposit market rose to 1.9 billion lei on Friday from 1.4 billion lei on Thursday. The BNR will issue Monday 's figures on Tuesday. The BNR soaked up 30 million lei in one-week deposits at an interest rate of 10.25% on Monday.

Following are Monday's average bid and ask quotes of commercial banks on Romania's interbank market. They were calculated at 11 a.m. (0800 GMT) by the BNR, based on data provided by 10 commercial banks (in pct):