National Bank Of Romania Posts RON783M Profit In 2015
The National Bank of Romania (BNR) reported a lower annual profit due to the decrease of the net revenues from foreign exchange operations.
The central bank’s profit fell 30% to RON783 million in 2015, from RON1.12 billion a year before. The lower profit is bad news for the Finance Ministry as well, given that RON8 of RON10 of BNR profit go to the state budget. BNR continued to spend more on interests than it cashed, but reduced the net loss to half compared with last year, to RON146 million, according to the bank’s financial report, published on Wednesday. (Puterea)
Government Mulls Transferring Romanian Lottery To Economy Ministry
The Romanian Lottery Company, part of the National Gambling Office, which is currently subordinated to the Finance Ministry, could be transferred to the Economy Ministry by emergency ordinance.
According to government representatives, the decision would be related to the European Commission’s recommendation on the principles for consumer protection and the protection of gambling users, to hinder the access of minors to online gambling.
European Commission also recommended immediate measures on establishing the entity that would bear the rights and obligations of the Romanian state in the National Lottery. (Romania Libera)
Oil Prices Rise To Over $50 A Barrel
Oil prices rose to over $50 a barrel on the backdrop of a sharp fall in US oil reserves and the speculations about Britain’s upcoming vote on whether to stay in the European Union.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) revealed a draw of 5.2 million barrels on US reserves, way ahead of analyst expectations, while official data from the Energy Information Administration, which can often be at variance with the API numbers, is to be published. (Adevarul)
Liviu Dragnea: PSD To Continue With Bill On Cutting Social Security Tax By 5%
PSD president, Liviu Dragnea, on Wednesday stated that PSD will continue with the draft law on cutting social security tax by 5%, if this is achievable following analyses.
“We will continue with both the draft law and the analysis. The government has been saying there is no money (…) for months now. This is probably why they have not paid the subventions yet, as they can’t find the money they put in the budget, not even the EU funds available for that,” Dragnea stated in the Parliament.
Dragnea added that PSD would never vote a draft law that would destabilize the economy. (Romania Libera)
Dragnea: Liberals’ Offers To UNPR Are Not Good For Relation With PSD
The offers of liberals to UNPR party are not good for UNPR’s relations with PSD and this will have consequences, PSD president Liviu Dragnea stated on Wednesday.
Liviu Dragnea added that, based on the information from UNPR president, Valeriu Steriu, liberals want a fusion with UNPR but the party has not offered an answer yet.
“When I have a clear, official, public statement from Mr. Steriu, saying that they had no talks and they plan no alliance with PNL, then we can sit down and talk, but with a partner which does not give us the feeling of instability,” Dragnea said.
PSD president added that he had several meetings and talks with Steriu, who gave assurance that nothing changed in the relation between UNPR and PSD. (Puterea)