The previous record was set on May 16, when the leu’s reference was 4.4463 to the euro.
Against the US dollar, the leu’s indicative fell 1.3% on the day to 3.5272 units, a new record low since July 2010.
The leu opened at 4.455/4.457 per euro, from 4.4525/4.454 per euro at Tuesday close. It further lost ground, tracking the currencies in the region, and hit an intraday low of 4.464 per euro.
Market participants said the central bank sold large amounts of euros to prop the national currency.
“In the absence of an aggressive intervention from the central bank, the leu is bound to remain on a downward trend against the euro. Assuming the risk appetite in international markets doesn’t change significantly over the next period, the leu will weaken toward a new psychological threshold of 4.5 per euro,” said Vlad Muscalu, senior economist at ING Bank Romania.
The national currency entered a downward path versus the euro in May, due to political turmoil following the government’s collapse in a no-confidence motion.
The leu’s evolution has also been negatively affected by external pressure due to the eurozone crisis and the escalating situation in Greece.
On the money market Wednesday, overnight rates fell to 1.1%-1.6% a year, from 1.8%-2.3% a year Tuesday.