The leu has been strengthening for the fourth consecutive day, gaining 0.87% from Tuesday until the first hour of trading Friday morning.
The evolution of the leu over the past days was contrary to the evolution of the other currencies in the region. Banking dealers suspect the intervention of the central bank through indirect euro sales and leu purchases.
The leu opened at 4.507/4.509 to the euro Friday morning, slightly higher from 4.509/4.513 to the euro at Thursday close.
It further appreciated and hit an early high of 4.487 against the euro in the first hour of trading. At around 10:15 local time (GMT0815), the leu was trading at 4.4945/4.4955 to the euro.
The central bank Thursday set the leu’s reference at 4.5085 units, the highest rate in three weeks. Against the US dollar, the leu’s indicative lost 0.98% on the day to 3.3146 units.
In the money market Friday morning, overnight rates rose to 5% – 5.5% a year.