MARKET MOVING NEWS
ECONOMY
-Romania’s Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) rose to 103 in March, up from 101.7 in February, marking a steady recovery from the below-average levels seen at the beginning of the year. In a research note, Erste Group attributes the upward trend to growing optimism. The bank maintains its 2% GDP growth projection for 2025.
-The construction sector posted encouraging figures. Romanian authorities issued 2,617 residential building permits in February 2025, reflecting a 36.4% monthly increase and a 2.4% rise year-on-year, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
FINANCE
-The IRCC (Reference Index for Consumer Loans), used by banks to set interest rates for new retail loans issued since spring 2019, will stand at 5.55% for the April 1 – June 30, 2025 period. This marks a slight decrease from the previous quarter’s level of 5.66%, as announced by Romania’s central bank on Monday, March 31.
-Fitch Vista Bank announced it will take over the loan portfolio of Eurobank’s former Romanian subsidiary Bancpost, effective March 31, 2025, signaling a new phase of consolidation in the Romanian banking sector.
-On the sovereign front, the Finance Ministry raised RON 930 million from local banks on Monday by selling government securities at an average annual yield of 6.93%.
-In corporate finance, Meta Estate Trust (MET.RO), a real estate holding company acting as a bridge between property and capital markets, reported a net profit of RON 10.8 million in 2024, up 15% year-on-year, and a 10% return on equity.
-The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) welcomed a new listing as Teilor, Romania’s premier jewelry chain, launched euro-denominated bonds on the exchange, expanding its access to capital.
-In a key development for institutional investment, Fondul Proprietatea announced the shortlisting of two candidates in its ongoing process to appoint a new Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM). Both are based in Luxembourg, one in partnership with a global infrastructure asset manager, the other with a Romanian consultancy firm.
COMPANIES
-Comvex Constanța (CMVX), Romania’s major Black Sea port operator, has called a shareholder meeting for April 29, 2025 to approve the distribution of RON 39.6 million in dividends from its 2024 net profit of RON 78.8 million.
-Petromidia Refinery, part of Rompetrol Rafinare and controlled by KMGI Group, is set to increase fuel exports to 1.76 million tonnes in 2025, marking its highest export volume in six years. Exports are expected to account for 35% of total production, reinforcing the group’s international footprint.
TODAY’S MARKET DATA
EXCHANGE RATE OF THE NATIONAL LEU CURRENCY
| EUR 4.9771 | GBP 5.9460 |
| USD 4.6005 | CHF 5.2179 |
| BGN 2.5447 | MDL 0.2559 |
(Source: National Bank of Romania BNR)
BUCHAREST STOCK EXCHANGE (BVB) INDICES
| BET -0.32% BET-TR -0.32% BET-FI 1.50% BET-NG -0.41% BET-EF -0.32% BET-XT -0.17%, BET-BK -0.28% BET AeRO -0.52% ROTX -0.34% |
CAPITAL MARKET COMMENTARY
| The Bucharest Stock Exchange mirrored the global downtrend on Monday as escalating concerns over new U.S. tariffs weighed heavily on investor sentiment. The BET index, which tracks the 20 most liquid Romanian companies, declined 0.32%, reflecting the cautious mood across regional and global markets. |
BET Index Constituents
| Company | Price | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| ANTIBIOTICE S.A. | 2.2000 | -0.45 |
| AQUILA PART PROD COM | 1.3850 | 0.00 |
| BANCA TRANSILVANIA S.A. | 28.6000 | -0.35 |
| BRD – GROUPE SOCIETE GENERALE S.A. | 18.6400 | 0.65 |
| C.N.T.E.E. TRANSELECTRICA | 42.8500 | 0.23 |
| Digi Communications N.V. | 66.2000 | -1.49 |
| FONDUL PROPRIETATEA | 0.3786 | 0.53 |
| MedLife S.A. | 6.3900 | 0.00 |
| OMV PETROM S.A. | 0.7390 | -0.47 |
| ONE UNITED PROPERTIES | 18.4000 | 0.88 |
| Premier Energy PLC | 19.2300 | -0.26 |
| PURCARI WINERIES PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED | 15.0400 | -0.27 |
| S.N. NUCLEARELECTRICA S.A. | 39.6500 | -1.86 |
| S.N.G.N. ROMGAZ S.A. | 6.0000 | -0.66 |
| S.N.T.G.N. TRANSGAZ S.A. | 29.5000 | 0.00 |
| S.P.E.E.H. HIDROELECTRICA S.A. | 123.3000 | -0.32 |
| SOCIETATEA ENERGETICA ELECTRICA S.A. | 12.8400 | 0.47 |
| Sphera Franchise Group | 41.9000 | -0.24 |
| TERAPLAST SA | 0.3885 | 0.00 |
| TTS (TRANSPORT TRADE SERVICES) | 4.0500 | -0.12 |
