The leu closed at 4.3515/4.3545 per euro, from 4.3575/4.36 per euro a day earlier.
The leu opened down at 4.36/4.362 per euro, but further gained ground, and dealers said the central bank stepped into the market to prop the leu. The sound economic data for the third quarter had limited impact on the leu’s rate, as players are mostly worried about external developments, the dealers said.
Romanian economy expanded by 1.9% in the third quarter, after a modest recovery of 0.2% three months earlier, a flash estimate of the country’s statistics institute showed Tuesday morning. Preliminary adjusted data showed the third-quarter gross domestic product increased by 4.5% from the same period of 2010.
According to dealers, the central bank’s recent interventions drove overnight rates to 7%-7.5% a year, from 5.5%-6% a year Monday.
The leu’s reference was set at 4.3487 to the euro, slightly weaker on the day. Against the US dollar, the leu’s indicative lost 1.3% to 3.2116 units.