MARKET MOVING NEWS
ECONOMY
-Romania’s business landscape saw a decline in company deregistrations in the first quarter of 2025. According to the National Office of the Trade Register (ONRC), 21,006 companies were deregistered nationally, representing a 16.95% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. Bucharest recorded the highest number of deregistrations, with 3,480 companies closing operations, marking a 9.04% drop from the first three months of the previous year.
FINANCE
-Romania’s leu has experienced its sharpest weekly decline in over 16 years. Analysts at JPMorgan have projected that ongoing political instability in the country could lead to a significant currency devaluation, estimating a 50% likelihood of a 15-20% drop in the leu’s value. Alternatively, if the political situation stabilizes, a more moderate depreciation of around 5% remains possible.
-The three-month ROBOR index, which serves as the reference interest rate for variable-rate loans in lei taken out before May 2019, as well as for corporate loans denominated in the local currency, rose to 7.31% on Friday, May 9, up from 7.25% the previous day. This increase signals ongoing pressures in the Romanian financial market.
-Speaking at an event organized by the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), the president of the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF), Alexandru Petrescu, emphasized the need for Romanian entrepreneurs to consider alternative financing options beyond traditional bank loans. “We must show the Romanian entrepreneur that the traditional line of bank financing is not the one that should be in their DNA, but, instinctively, they must turn to the stock market for different financing methods,” Petrescu stated.
-The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has subscribed PLN 140 million (EUR 33 million) in a PLN 1 billion (EUR 235 million) bond issue from Poland’s Żabka Group, which also operates in Romania through the Froo store brand. This investment reflects ongoing support for regional retail growth and financial innovation.
COMPANIES
-Romania’s Competition Council has announced a review of the planned acquisition by MetLife, Inc. of PineBridge Investments Americas Holdings Limited, which includes the indirect acquisition of Digital Cable Systems S.A. and Akta Telecom S.A. This move is part of MetLife’s broader strategy to expand its presence in the Romanian telecommunications sector.
-Electrica (EL.RO), a major player in Romania’s electricity distribution and supply market, reported a 4.9% year-on-year increase in distribution volumes for the first quarter of 2025, reaching 4,613 GWh. This growth highlights the ongoing demand for electricity despite broader economic challenges.
-Electricity suppliers in Romania are required to inform their clients by June 10, 2025, about the termination of the price capping system, which will end on July 1, 2025, as mandated by the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE). This regulatory change is expected to impact pricing structures and consumer costs in the coming months.
TODAY’S MARKET DATA
EXCHANGE RATE OF THE NATIONAL LEU CURRENCY
| EUR 5.1165 | GBP 6.0357 |
| USD 4.5490 | CHF 5.4699 |
| BGN 2.6160 | MDL 0.2634 |
(Source: National Bank of Romania BNR)
BUCHAREST STOCK EXCHANGE (BVB) INDICES
| BET 0.97% BET-TR 0.97% BET-FI 0.18% BET-NG 1.05% BET-EF 1.14% BET-XT 0.84%, BET-BK 0.63% BET AeRO -1.11% ROTX -1.01% |
CAPITAL MARKET COMMENTARY
| Romanian stocks ended Friday’s session in positive territory, mirroring gains across European markets, as investor sentiment improved following a new trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom, along with the Bank of England’s decision to cut interest rates. The Bucharest benchmark BET index rose 0.97%, with Electrica leading blue-chip gainers after its shares jumped 4.69%. Despite the day’s gains, the index remained on track for its steepest weekly decline in nearly three years. |
BET Index Constituents
| Company | Price | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| ANTIBIOTICE S.A. | 1.7920 | 1.13 |
| AQUILA PART PROD COM | 1.2880 | -2.28 |
| BANCA TRANSILVANIA S.A. | 26.4200 | 1.23 |
| BRD – GROUPE SOCIETE GENERALE S.A. | 18.0600 | 0.89 |
| C.N.T.E.E. TRANSELECTRICA | 43.0000 | 2.26 |
| Digi Communications N.V. | 64.8000 | 0.78 |
| FONDUL PROPRIETATEA | 0.3420 | -0.87 |
| MedLife S.A. | 5.8100 | -1.02 |
| OMV PETROM S.A. | 0.7070 | 2.02 |
| ONE UNITED PROPERTIES | 17.0000 | -1.16 |
| Premier Energy PLC | 17.2000 | -1.15 |
| PURCARI WINERIES PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED | 13.5000 | -0.88 |
| S.N. NUCLEARELECTRICA S.A. | 38.6000 | 0.13 |
| S.N.G.N. ROMGAZ S.A. | 5.7000 | -1.04 |
| S.N.T.G.N. TRANSGAZ S.A. | 26.2000 | 1.95 |
| S.P.E.E.H. HIDROELECTRICA S.A. | 116.3000 | 1.13 |
| SOCIETATEA ENERGETICA ELECTRICA S.A. | 12.0600 | 4.69 |
| Sphera Franchise Group | 41.5000 | 2.47 |
| TERAPLAST SA | 0.3380 | -1.17 |
| TTS (TRANSPORT TRADE SERVICES) | 3.7500 | -1.06 |
