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.
Helleniq Energy has completed two photovoltaic parks in southern Romania with a combined capacity of 58 MW, marking the company's first operational renewable energy assets in the country. The projects are part of a 2023 agreement with Metlen for developing four solar projects totalling 211 MW.
Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania has appointed Anca Petcu as Chief Operations and Transformation Officer and Deputy CEO, following approval from the National Bank of Romania.
Patria Bank has signed a contract to sell its 99.9% stake in SAI Patria Asset Management to BRD Asset Management SAI for €5.5 million.
Romania's retail sales volume (excluding automotive and motorcycle trade) dropped 9.1% year-on-year in January 2026 in gross terms, and 6.5% when adjusted for working days and seasonality, according to data released by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Romania is set to host additional US military assets following a high-level Supreme Council of National Defence (CSAT) decision.