MARKET MOVING NEWS
ECONOMY
-Romania’s national unemployment rate stood at 3.38% at the end of January 2025, with 269,165 registered unemployed, according to the National Employment Agency (ANOFM).
-The government has approved the extension of the energy price capping & offsetting scheme, Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja announced. The electricity price cap remains in place until July 1, 2025, while gas price caps will be extended for another 12 months.
-Romania has not yet been affected by the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, but a 25% customs tariff on all goods would have significant economic implications, warned Valentin Lazea, chief economist of the National Bank of Romania (BNR).
-Bucharest house prices surged 23% in Q4 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, reaching an average of €1,850 per sqm. However, housing supply declined by 33%, according to data presented at the Trends Forum.
FINANCE
– Banca Transilvania, Romania’s largest lender, posted a RON4.7 billion net consolidated profit in 2024, marking a 59% increase from 2023. Total assets surged 22% to RON207 billion.
-BCR Group: The banking group reported a RON2.76 billion (€556 million) net profit, up 19.2% from 2023, driven by strong net interest income and fee revenue.
COMPANIES
-Transgaz: The state-owned gas transmission operator doubled its net profit in 2024 to RON391 million, with revenue rising 28% to RON2.3 billion, mainly due to higher transmission tariffs.
-Digi: The telecommunications giant, controlled by Zoltan Teszari, reported €1.92 billion in revenue for 2024, up from €1.7 billion in 2023. The company also posted a €540 million profit, according to preliminary financial results.
-Aquila: The market leader in integrated distribution and logistics ended 2024 with a RON90 million net profit, down 7% year-over-year. The decline was attributed to the 1% minimum profit tax and rising employee costs.
-MedLife: Romania’s leading private healthcare provider reported a record RON2.7 billion in revenues for 2024, up from RON2.2 billion in 2023. The company turned profitable, posting a RON18.4 million profit compared to a RON4.2 million loss the previous year.
-Romgaz: The state-owned natural gas producer saw a 12% drop in turnover to RON7.9 billion, but net profit climbed 15% to RON3.2 billion, aided by the removal of certain taxes.
-Transelectrica: Romania’s national grid operator posted a 180% increase in net profit to RON597 million, with total operating income rising 67% to RON7.8 billion.
-AROBS Transilvania Software: The largest listed technology company on the Bucharest Stock Exchange generated RON412.5 million in consolidated revenue, 3.5% lower than in 2023 but 2% above its revised budget target.
-Conpet Ploiesti: The state-owned oil transport company posted a RON49.4 million net profit, down 19.8% from 2023, though 11.5% higher than its budget forecast.
TODAY’S MARKET DATA
EXCHANGE RATE OF THE NATIONAL LEU CURRENCY
| EUR 4.9765 | GBP 6.0281 |
| USD 4.7844 | CHF 5.3023 |
| BGN 2.5444 | MDL 0.2548 |
(Source: National Bank of Romania BNR)
BUCHAREST STOCK EXCHANGE (BVB) INDICES
| BET -1.12% BET-TR -1.12% BET-FI -0.37% BET-NG -0.89% BET-EF -1.10% BET-XT -1.02%, BET-BK -1.33% BET AeRO 0.25% ROTX -1.14% |
CAPITAL MARKET COMMENTARY
| Bucharest stocks head into the weekend in the red in line bucking the trend across Europe. The Romanian benchmark BET index fell 1.12%. Comsumer goods distributor Aquila plunged 4.20% leading blue-chip decliners. |
BET Index Constituents
| Company | Price | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| ANTIBIOTICE S.A. | 2.4300 | 0.41 |
| AQUILA PART PROD COM | 1.3700 | -4.20 |
| BANCA TRANSILVANIA S.A. | 28.6000 | -1.55 |
| BRD – GROUPE SOCIETE GENERALE S.A. | 17.8200 | -2.09 |
| C.N.T.E.E. TRANSELECTRICA | 46.0500 | 1.43 |
| Digi Communications N.V. | 68.0000 | 0.00 |
| FONDUL PROPRIETATEA | 0.3668 | 0.22 |
| MedLife S.A. | 5.9200 | -1.17 |
| OMV PETROM S.A. | 0.7500 | -1.12 |
| ONE UNITED PROPERTIES | 20.2500 | -0.74 |
| Premier Energy PLC | 18.9000 | -1.05 |
| PURCARI WINERIES PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED | 14.4200 | -0.83 |
| S.N. NUCLEARELECTRICA S.A. | 41.9000 | 0.00 |
| S.N.G.N. ROMGAZ S.A. | 5.9000 | -0.51 |
| S.N.T.G.N. TRANSGAZ S.A. | 28.5000 | 0.35 |
| S.P.E.E.H. HIDROELECTRICA S.A. | 118.7000 | -1.90 |
| SOCIETATEA ENERGETICA ELECTRICA S.A. | 14.8200 | 0.14 |
| Sphera Franchise Group | 39.7000 | -3.41 |
| TERAPLAST SA | 0.4270 | 0.47 |
| TTS (TRANSPORT TRADE SERVICES) | 5.0200 | -2.52 |
