The leu closed at 4.3507/4.3515 versus the euro, compared to 4.353/4.356 at closing the day before.
The leu opened down at 4.363/4.365 to the euro. It later gained ground and traded near 4.355 per euro toward the afternoon, with dealers suspecting the central bank’s intervention to prop the national currency.
Dealers estimate the central bank sold over EUR200 million Wednesday to prevent the leu from depreciating too much against the euro, after the cost of Italian debt rose above 7% a year, sending a negative signal to the markets.
The central bank’s set Thursday the leu’s reference at 4.353 per euro, from 4.3534 per euro a day earlier.
On the money market, overnight rates rose to 5%-5.5% a year, from 4.8%-5.3% a year Wednesday.