The leu opened flat at 4.459 to the euro and stayed around that level during the first two hours, amid a quiet market.
The central bank set the leu’s reference at 4.4556 versus the euro Wednesday, the highest rate since December 16. Against the US dollar, the leu’s reference gained modestly to 3.2978 units, from 3.2984 units a day earlier.
The leu’s indicative won 1.86% versus the euro in the past seven sessions. Central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said earlier this week that the leu has strengthened after the Finance Ministry exchanged part of its foreign currency holdings at the central bank, which in turn sold euros on the money market.
In the money market Thursday morning, overnight rates were at 3.2%-3.7% a year.