MARKET MOVING NEWS
ECONOMY
-At the end of 2024, Romania recorded a working-age population (15–64 years) of 8.3 million persons, with the employment rate reaching 63.8%, representing a 0.8% increase compared to 2023, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
-Romania’s real estate market posted a strong start to the year, with total investments reaching EUR 169 million in the first quarter of 2025, according to data from real estate consultancy CBRE. This figure is more than double the volume of the previous quarter and nearly equal to the same period last year, signaling a steady return of investor interest in local assets.
FINANCE
-Private sector lending in Romania grew by 9.2% year-on-year in March 2025, reaching a total of RON 423 billion, according to central bank data. Loans denominated in local currency rose by 10.9%, while foreign currency loans increased by 5.3%.
-Deposits from individuals and companies totaled RON 629 billion at the end of March 2025, representing a 7.9% increase compared to March 2024 (2.9% growth in real terms). Local currency deposits advanced by 7.3%, while foreign currency deposits grew by 9.3%, central bank data showed.
-At its general meeting held on April 25, Banca Transilvania (TLV.RO) shareholders approved, among other resolutions, the distribution of RON 1.59 billion in dividends from the bank’s RON 3.5 billion net profit for 2024, according to a report submitted to the Bucharest Stock Exchange.
-Shareholders of BRD-Société Générale, including France’s Société Générale (owning 60%) and various pension funds (holding 17%), approved the distribution of RON 737 million in dividends, equivalent to 50% of the bank’s 2024 net profit.
Garanti BBVA Bank Romania reported a net income of RON 654 million for 2024, a 28.6% increase compared to the previous year, driven by growth in both loans and deposits.
COMPANIES
-Romania’s Rompetrol Rafinare announced plans to restart its Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) unit at the beginning of May, responding to rising demand for petrochemical products.
-Hidroelectrica (H2O.RO), the largest company listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, announced the signing of a contract on April 24 with Prime Batteries Technology SRL and Enevo Group SRL for the acquisition of a Li-ion battery storage facility located within the Crucea Nord Wind Farm in Constanța County.
-Romania’s Competition Council has approved the transaction through which Altex Romania acquired the local operations of DIY retailer Brico Depot from the UK’s Kingfisher Group, for an enterprise value of EUR 70 million, including debt.
TODAY’S MARKET DATA
EXCHANGE RATE OF THE NATIONAL LEU CURRENCY
| EUR 4.9774 | GBP 5.8304 |
| USD 4.3833 | CHF 5.2813 |
| BGN 2.5449 | MDL 0.2538 |
(Source: National Bank of Romania BNR)
BUCHAREST STOCK EXCHANGE (BVB) INDICES
| BET 0.33% – BET-TR 0.33% BET-FI 0.00% BET-NG 0.49% BET-EF 0.33% BET-XT 0.28%, BET-BK 0.33% BET AeRO -0.50% ROTX 0.33% |
CAPITAL MARKET COMMENTARY
| Bucharest stocks closed higher on Friday, in line with the positive trend seen across European markets. Investor sentiment improved amid growing optimism that tensions between the United States and China may ease, following reports that China is likely to remove its 125% tariff on certain U.S. imports. |
BET Index Constituents
| Company | Price | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| ANTIBIOTICE S.A. | 2.0800 | 0.00 |
| AQUILA PART PROD COM | 1.4220 | 0.00 |
| BANCA TRANSILVANIA S.A. | 28.1400 | -0.21 |
| BRD – GROUPE SOCIETE GENERALE S.A. | 18.8200 | 0.11 |
| C.N.T.E.E. TRANSELECTRICA | 43.7500 | -0.68 |
| Digi Communications N.V. | 66.4000 | -0.45 |
| FONDUL PROPRIETATEA | 0.3880 | 0.52 |
| MedLife S.A. | 6.3500 | 0.16 |
| OMV PETROM S.A. | 0.7330 | 0.96 |
| ONE UNITED PROPERTIES | 18.4800 | 1.09 |
| Premier Energy PLC | 19.1000 | 0.32 |
| PURCARI WINERIES PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED | 14.9400 | 2.05 |
| S.N. NUCLEARELECTRICA S.A. | 41.3000 | -0.12 |
| S.N.G.N. ROMGAZ S.A. | 5.9600 | 0.00 |
| S.N.T.G.N. TRANSGAZ S.A. | 29.8000 | 0.34 |
| S.P.E.E.H. HIDROELECTRICA S.A. | 121.0000 | 0.58 |
| SOCIETATEA ENERGETICA ELECTRICA S.A. | 13.1000 | 1.55 |
| Sphera Franchise Group | 43.1000 | 0.58 |
| TERAPLAST SA | 0.3750 | 0.94 |
| TTS (TRANSPORT TRADE SERVICES) | 4.1650 | 0.73 |
