BNR keeps key interest rate at 6.50%
The National Bank of Romania's (BNR) Board of Directors decided on Monday to maintain the key interest rate at 6.50% per annum in its first monetary policy meeting of the year.
The National Bank of Romania's (BNR) Board of Directors decided on Monday to maintain the key interest rate at 6.50% per annum in its first monetary policy meeting of the year.
The beginning of 2026 will bring lower mortgage interest rates in Romania, both for fixed rates (over 98% of current loans) and variable rates, according to a market report by online broker Ipotecare.ro and financial consultant SVN Romania Credit & Financial Solutions.
Romanian 10-year euro-denominated bonds currently trade at a yield of 5.96%, representing a 351-basis point (bps) spread over German Bunds, which equals to 3.51% over Germany.
Investors are anxiously eyeing the tariff-related decisions Donald Trump may make once he reaches the Oval Office in the White House.
ECB will continue to cut interest rates by 25 basis points, although a more aggressive cut of 50 basis points would be more justified given the fragile economic situation.
Emerging market currencies are going to be under pressure until at least the third quarter of 2024.

Oil major OMV Petrom closed 2025 with a net profit of approximately €620 million, down 27% compared to the previous year.
HempFlax Netherlands, a large cultivator and processor of industrial hemp, has announced plans to sell its extensive agricultural portfolio.
Romanian private healthcare group MedLife has completed the full acquisition of the Medstar group of clinics in Cluj-Napoca.
Romanian drilling company Foraj Sonde Videle has secured a framework contract worth approximately €132 million from Dalkia France, part of the EDF Group, for geothermal drilling services over three years.
Romania's foreign exchange reserves reached €65.81 billion on 31 January 2026, according to data released by the National Bank of Romania (BNR).