The leu closed at 4.416/4.4175 to the euro, from 4.43 to the euro Monday, the last trading day of 2012. The market was closed Tuesday and Wednesday for the New Year’s break.
The leu opened stronger Thursday, at 4.413/4.414 to the euro, following a strong rise on international markets the day before, when the local market was closed.
Romania’s central bank set the leu’s exchange rate at 4.4153 per euro, the strongest in eight months.
On the money market, overnight rates were slightly down on the day at 5.6%-6.1% a year.