The leu opened at 4.342/4.344 per euro, slightly stronger from 4.3465/4.348 per euro at Friday closing.
In the first hour, the leu extended gains, trading at 4.34/4.3415 to the euro in a quiet market.
The other currencies in the region were slightly higher, while the euro appreciated against the major currencies, as investors hope the new governments in Greece and Italy will take decisive measures to alleviate the debt crisis.
On Friday, Romania’s central bank set the leu’s reference at 4.3479 per euro, from 4.353 per euro in the previous day.
On the money market Monday morning, overnight rates rose to 5.5%-6% a year, on reduced leu supply, following central bank interventions in recent weeks to support the local currency, dealers said.