The leu closed at 4.44/4.4415 per euro, almost 0.6% weaker from 4.4155/4.4183 per euro Thursday.
It opened at 4.421 per euro and further lost ground, amid growing demand for euros from both international and local players.
Market participants said the central bank has stepped into the market and sold euros to keep the leu’s fall in check. However, shortly after the central bank announced its reference rate, the leu fell to 4.4325/4.435 to the euro.
The central bank set the leu’s reference at 4.4265 per euro, the lowest rate on record. The national currency hit a low of 4.4168 per euro early May, shortly after a government collapse following a no-confidence motion in parliament.
Against the US dollar, the leu’s indicative declined 0.2% on the day to 3.4209 units.
On the money market, overnight rates were at 3.6%-4.1% a year, from 3.8%-4.3% a year in the previous day.