Romanian Leu Ends Little Changed vs Euro Ahead of Sunday Election

The leu ended at 3.8450/8490 per euro versus 3.8510/8550 on Wednesday, one dealer told SeeNews.

The Romanian currency reached an intraday low of 3.8730 per euro shortly before the end of trading, but quickly firmed near Wednesday's close, she said.

The trading volumes have been low in recent days with dealers suggesting uncertainty about the outcome from the upcoming parliamentary elections is making foreign investors hesitant.

Romania's central bank, BNR, set its reference exchange rate, used for statistical purposes, at 3.8580 lei per euro on Thursday, compared to 3.8131 lei on Wednesday. For the U.S. dollar, the reference exchange rate was set at 2.9809 lei versus Wednesday's 2.9390 lei.

Interest rates on overnight leu deposits were set at an average of 13.71%/15.08% on Thursday, compared to 13.63%/14.98% on Wednesday.

Turnover on the interbank leu deposit market fell to some 1.5 billion lei on Wednesday from 1.855 billion lei on Tuesday. The BNR will issue Thursday's figures on Friday.

Following are Thursday's average bid and ask quotes of commercial banks on Romania's interbank market. They were calculated at 11 a.m. (0900 GMT) by the BNR, based on data provided by 10 commercial banks (in pct):