MARKET MOVING NEWS
ECONOMY
-Romania recorded the highest annual inflation rate among EU Member States in March 2025, reaching 5.1%, according to data released by Eurostat on April 16.
-New industrial orders in manufacturing—covering both domestic and foreign markets—fell by 1.8% year-on-year in January–February 2025, in nominal terms. The decline was primarily driven by a 4.4% drop in the capital goods industry, according to figures published by Romania’s National Institute of Statistics (INS) on April 17.
-Adding to the economic concerns, Erste Group has issued a stark warning regarding Romania’s political deadlock. The bank cautions that ongoing gridlock could threaten the country’s investment-grade credit rating, potentially downgrading it to junk status.
FINANCE
-Romania’s Ministry of Finance successfully raised over RON 1.3 billion (approx. EUR 269.7 million) through the third FIDELIS government securities offering of 2025, aimed at the general population. The offering attracted RON 838 million and EUR 101 million, respectively, via the Bucharest Stock Exchange platforms.
-According to EY data, U.S. investors were the most active buyers in Romania’s M&A market during the 2020–2024 period, highlighting sustained international interest in the country.
-BCR, Romania’s second-largest bank by assets, reported a non-consolidated net profit of RON 2.8 billion in 2024. The bank is set to distribute 50% of this profit as dividends to shareholders.
-Banca Transilvania continued its strong lending activity, ending 2024 with a RON 52.3 billion loan portfolio for companies, SMEs, and public institutions. This marks a 17.5% year-on-year increase, with business loans accounting for over 60% of the bank’s total loan book.
COMPANIES
-Romania’s Competition Council has asked Vodafone and Digi Communications to address concerns arising from their planned acquisition of Telekom Romania. Regulatory scrutiny is increasing as the deal could significantly reshape the local telecommunications landscape.
TODAY’S MARKET DATA
EXCHANGE RATE OF THE NATIONAL LEU CURRENCY
| EUR 4.9773 | GBP 5.7940 |
| USD 4.3756 | CHF 5.3554 |
| BGN 2.5448 | MDL 0.2542 |
(Source: National Bank of Romania BNR)
BUCHAREST STOCK EXCHANGE (BVB) INDICES
| BET 0.07% – BET-TR 0.07% BET-FI 0.69% BET-NG 0.05% BET-EF 0.08% BET-XT 0.12%, BET-BK 0.04% BET AeRO 0.30% ROTX 0.08% |
CAPITAL MARKET COMMENTARY
| Bucharest stocks traded in the green on Thursday bucking the trend across Europe where markets closed mostly lower after the European Central Bank (ECB) unanimously decided to reduce its key interest rates by another 25 basis points earlier today, marking the seventh rate cut in a year. The Romanian benchmark BET index advanced 0.07% with Fondul Proprietatea leading blue-chip gainers. The investment fund saw its shares rising 1.08%. |
BET Index Constituents
| Company | Price | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| ANTIBIOTICE S.A. | 2.0900 | 0.72 |
| AQUILA PART PROD COM | 1.3000 | -0.76 |
| BANCA TRANSILVANIA S.A. | 28.0000 | 0.21 |
| BRD – GROUPE SOCIETE GENERALE S.A. | 18.1200 | 0.00 |
| C.N.T.E.E. TRANSELECTRICA | 43.9000 | 0.23 |
| Digi Communications N.V. | 65.5000 | 0.00 |
| FONDUL PROPRIETATEA | 0.3740 | 1.08 |
| MedLife S.A. | 6.1900 | 0.00 |
| OMV PETROM S.A. | 0.7105 | -0.35 |
| ONE UNITED PROPERTIES | 18.4200 | 0.11 |
| Premier Energy PLC | 18.8600 | 0.21 |
| PURCARI WINERIES PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED | 14.2600 | -0.42 |
| S.N. NUCLEARELECTRICA S.A. | 39.9500 | 0.13 |
| S.N.G.N. ROMGAZ S.A. | 5.9600 | 0.00 |
| S.N.T.G.N. TRANSGAZ S.A. | 27.1000 | 0.18 |
| S.P.E.E.H. HIDROELECTRICA S.A. | 121.0000 | 0.41 |
| SOCIETATEA ENERGETICA ELECTRICA S.A. | 12.2800 | 0.00 |
| Sphera Franchise Group | 40.6000 | 0.00 |
| TERAPLAST SA | 0.3705 | -0.54 |
| TTS (TRANSPORT TRADE SERVICES) | 3.9850 | -0.25 |
