The leu opened at 4.466/4.469 per euro in Bucharest, weaker than 4.4615/4.4625 per euro at previous closing. The leu lost ground on international markets late Wednesday, touching 4.47 units after Bucharest closing time.
In the first hour of trading Thursday, the leu touched an intraday high at 4.4635/4.465 to the euro, but the gains were quickly erased.
The leu touched a low at 4.4715 to the euro before switching trend again. At around 11:20 local time (GMT0820), the Romanian currency traded at 4.468/4.4695 per euro.
Dealers said the transferred volumes are low compared to Wednesday session, and the central bank indirectly sold euros to contain the leu’s depreciation.
However, compared with Wednesday late levels, the leu and the other currencies in the region were not drastically changed this morning, the dealers also said.
The central bank set Wednesday the leu’s reference rate at 4.4587, a new record low, as the sentiment in the region worsened following discussions about Greece’s exit from the euro-zone.
On the money market Thursday morning, overnight rates rose to 4.8%-5.3% a year, from 1%-1.5% a year in the previous day, as a new period of building reserves started.