Romania’s leu retreated against the euro by midday Thursday and the central bank’s reference weakened to a fresh historic low of 4.4796 units, as investors wait for a parliament vote on President Traian Basescu’s impeachment.
Senate chairman Crin Antonescu said earlier Thursday the Parliament would convene Friday, at 5 p.m., to debate and vote on the request to impeach Basescu, accused of having breached the Constitution repeatedly.
The Bucharest bourse’s composite index BET-C dropped 0.27%, to 2,558.71. Blue chip index BET lost 0.4%, to 4,533.55.
The BET-FI index, which tracks the five regional investment funds (SIFs) and Fondul Proprietatea (FP.RO), closed 1.31% lower. Proprietatea saw only a slight increase, of 0.44 %, to 0.461 lei (EUR0.1) a share, while four of the five regional investments funds closed in red, with decreases ranging between 0.91% and 4.19%.
SIF Oltenia (SIF5.RO) closed flat on the day.
The extended blue-chip index BET-XT ended 0.67% lower. The Bucharest bourse’s new tracker, benchmark index BET-BK inched down 0.09%. Erste Group Bank (EBS.RO) gained 0.15%.
Energy stocks tracker BET-NG lost 1.19%, dragged down by OMV Petrom (SNP.RO), Transelectrica (TEL.RO) and Rompetrol Rafinare (RRC.RO), which lost 0.03%, 1.42% and 7.07%, respectively.
Transgaz (TGN.RO) inched up 0.03%.
The bourse’s overall traded value stood at RON18.3 million (EUR4.1 million). Share trades amounted to RON15.7 million (EUR3.5 million). Transactions with structural products contributed some RON2.5 million (EUR576,738).
Proprietatea was top-traded issuer on the main market, with share transactions worth RON3.1 million. It was followed by SIF Moldova (SIF2.RO), with RON2.79 million, and OMV Petrom with RON1.89 million. (EUR1=RON4.4796)