March in numbers

• March 2

- The National Bank of Romania announces that, on February 28, 2026, the foreign exchange reserves at the National Bank of Romania stood at 65,023 million euros, compared to 65,812 million euros on January 31, 2025. The level of the gold reserve remained at 103.6 tons. Given the evolution of international prices, its value stood at 14,616 million euros. Romania's international reserves (currency plus gold) on February 28, 2026 were 79,639 million euros, compared to 80,033 million euros on January 31, 2025.

- The dollar - at the lowest rate of the month against our currency: 4.3430 lei, according to the National Bank of Romania.

- The gram of gold reaches the maximum price of the month: 752.0815 lei, according to the National Bank of Romania.

• March 3

- The manufacturer of electrical equipment and solutions for energy infrastructure Electro-Alfa International debuts on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, following an initial public offering worth 579.64 million lei.

• March 5

- Euro - at the lowest rate of the month against the leu: 5.0937 lei, a level it also reached on March 11 and 17, according to NBR data.

• March 7

- The financial rating agency Moody's maintains Romania's long-term rating at "Baa3", with a "negative" outlook.

• March 9

- The franc reaches the maximum rate of the month against our currency: 5.6621 lei, according to NBR.

• March 12

- The government decides to increase the gross minimum wage in the country guaranteed in payment to 4,325 lei per month starting July 1, 2026, compared to 4,050 lei currently.

• March 13

- The government adopts the 2026 state budget, which sets a deficit target of 6.2% of GDP for the end of the year.

• March 17

- The National Bank of Romania announces that, in January 2026, the current account of the balance of payments recorded a deficit of 977 million euros, compared to 1,032 million euros in January 2025. In its structure, the balance of goods recorded a deficit lower by 414 million euros, the balance of services - a surplus lower by 12 million euros, the balance of primary income made a negative contribution of 530 million euros, and the balance of secondary income recorded a surplus higher by 183 million euros.

• March 19

- The Government adopts a draft emergency ordinance to protect national interests in strategic areas, through which the state could use economic instruments to maintain and capitalize on strategic industrial capacities when the operators that hold them face financial difficulties.

• March 20

- The State Budget Law and the State Social Security Budget Law are adopted by Parliament.

• March 23

- The gram of gold, quoted at the minimum level of the month: 609.2766 lei, according to the National Bank of Romania.

• March 24

- The National Bank of Romania announces that the broad money supply (M3) recorded, at the end of February 2026, a balance of 789,841 million lei. It increased by 0.6% (no change in real terms) compared to January 2026, and compared to February 2025 it increased by 7.1% (-2% in real terms).

• March 26

- The Ministry of Finance announces that the general consolidated budget ended with a deficit of 14.23 billion lei, respectively 0.7% of GDP in the first two months of 2026, compared to a deficit of 30.24 billion lei, respectively 1.58% of GDP in the same period in 2025.

- The Government declares, by emergency ordinance, a crisis situation on the crude oil and petroleum products market for the period April 1-June 30, 2026, with the possibility of extension.

• March 27

- UniCredit Bank lists its sixth corporate bond issue on the BVB, attracting 600 million lei from institutional investors.

- Euro rises to the highest rate of the month against the leu: 5.0991 lei, according to NBR figures.

• March 30

- Franc reaches the lowest rate of the month against our currency: 5.5483 lei, according to NBR data.

• March 31

- Government extends until June 30, 2026 the capping of the commercial mark-up on basic foodstuffs, maintaining the mechanism introduced by GEO no. 67/2023.

- Dollar - at the highest rate of the month against our currency: 4.4463 lei, according to NBR.

- The BET index, of the 20 most liquid stocks listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, fell 1.15% in March to 27,789 points, while the BET-BK index, the benchmark for the performance of equity investment funds, fell 4.03% to 5,379 points.

- Danube freight forwarder Transport Trade Services fell 14.8% last month, the biggest drop in the BET index, as the company reported quarterly losses.

- Drugmaker Antibiotice fell 14.6% as the company reported a decline in profit.

- Real estate developer One United Properties fell 12.6% last month, even as it reported a rise in profit.

- Oil and gas producer OMV Petrom shares rose 3.1%, the company benefiting from the strong rise in crude oil prices.

- The BET-FI index, of former SIFs and Fondul Proprietatea, registered a 5% drop, to 97,580 points, the biggest decline among all BVB stock baskets, as five of its six components depreciated.