The leu closed at 4.4425/4.4435 per euro, from 4.44/4.4415 per euro Friday.
Elsewhere in the region, the leu’s peers were losing up to 1.1% on the day versus the euro, as investors are worried about the political scene in Greece and a potentially early default of the Hellenic nation.
The leu opened at 4.436/4.439 per euro, from 4.44/4.4415 per euro at Friday close. It further lost ground and hit the day’s low of 4.445 per euro before switching to modest gains, amid speculations regarding a covert intervention from the central bank to aid the national currency.
The central bank set the leu’s reference at 4.4373 versus the euro, a new record low. Against the US dollar, the leu’s indicative lost 0.8% on the day to 3.4479 units, the lowest rate since July 2010.
The national currency slid on a downward path versus the euro early May, due to political turmoil following the government’s collapse in a no-confidence motion.
Although the new government committed to carry on fiscal and economic reforms initiated under a EUR5 billion international loan package, the leu continues to trade above 4.44 per euro, also due to mounting external pressure.
On the money market, overnight rates were at 3.8%-4.3% a year, from 3.6%-4.1% a year Friday.