Romanian Leu Ends Week Stronger vs Euro in Tune with Peers

The Hungarian forint, the Polish zloty and the Slovak crown were among other emerging market currencies that firmed against the euro during the day, one dealer told SeeNews.

Dealers have said the leu would trade between 3.93 and 3.95 per euro in the next few days as currency supply and demand will be balanced.

The leu has been losing ground for almost three weeks due to persistent macroeconomic imbalances and uncertainty about the forming of Romania’s new government following the November 30 elections. On Tuesday dealers said they suspected an intervention by the central bank aimed at preventing the local currency from breaking into the 4.0-per-euro territory.

Romania's central bank, BNR, set its reference exchange rate, used for statistical purposes, at 3.9497 lei per euro on Friday, compared to 3.9530 lei on Thursday. For the U.S. dollar, the reference exchange rate was set at 2.8194 lei versus Thursday's 2.7040 lei.

Interest rates on overnight leu deposits fell to an average of 9.98%/10.48% on Friday, from 10.21%/10.72% on Thursday.

Turnover on the interbank leu deposit market rose to 2.87 billion lei on Thursday from 2.49 billion lei on Wednesday. The BNR will issue Friday's figures on Monday.

Following are Friday'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):