The leu closed at 4.3925/4.395 per euro, 0.4% weaker from 4.374/4.376 per euro Thursday. It had opened at 4.377/4.38 per euro and hit an intraday high of 4.3735 per euro before it depreciated sharply following the government’s collapse.
Market participants say the central bank stepped in aggressively and sold euros to support the leu.
Analysts expect the bank will continue to monitor the market, but that it could allow the leu to depreciate beyond the psychological threshold of 4.4 per euro.
The central bank set the leu’s reference at 4.3747 to the euro, slightly stronger from 4.3757 to the euro Thursday. The leu also appreciated modestly against the US dollar and traded at 3.3074 units, from 3.3084 units in the previous session.
On the money market, overnight rates were at 3.8%-4.3% a year, from 3.5%-4% a year Thursday.