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.

The Romanian economy is entering 2026 on a fragile footing, prompting ING analysts to significantly lower their growth expectations for the year.
OMV Petrom will construct a photovoltaic park at its Petrobrazi refinery in Romania.
Romania's economy grew by 0.6% in 2025 but ended the year in a technical recession.
Shareholders of state-owned nuclear power producer Nuclearelectrica have approved the final investment decision for the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) project at Doicești.
Electro-Alfa International has raised approximately 580 million RON (€115 million) for around 66 million newly issued shares, equivalent to a 35% free-float, following its initial public offering (IPO) on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB).