The leu opened down at 4.363/4.365 to the euro, from 4.353/4.336 to the euro at Wednesday’s closing.
At around 10:00 hours, the leu traded at 4.3635/4.366 per euro.
Dealers estimate the central bank sold over EUR200 million Wednesday to prevent the leu from depreciating too much against the European common currency, after the cost of Italian debt rose above 7% a year, sending a negative signal to the markets.
“It seems the players expect interventions from the central banks in the region to support the national currencies and things are relative quiet because of that,” said one dealer.
Romanian central bank set the leu’s reference at 4.3534 to the euro Wednesday, barely changed on the day.
On the money market Thursday morning, overnight rates were at 5%-.5% a year.