The leu closed at 4.327/4.3295 per euro, from 4.3115/4.313 per euro Wednesday.
The currency opened at 4.32 per euro and hit a low of 4.33 to the euro in early action, before returning toward opening levels in the afternoon. In the second half of the session, however, the leu switched course once again amid investor pessimism after S&P announced it has affirmed its BB+ rating on Romania, one notch below investment grade.
The central bank set the leu’s reference at 4.3249 to the euro, 0.3% weaker on the day. Against the US dollar, the leu’s indicative dipped to 3.2908 units, from 3.2884 units Wednesday.
In the money market, overnight rates fell to 2.8%-3.3% a year, from 3.3%-3.8% a year in the previous session.