May in numbers

• May 4

- The National Bank of Romania announces that, as of April 30, 2026, the foreign exchange reserves at the National Bank of Romania stood at 64,836 million euros, compared to 67,032 million euros on March 31, 2026. The level of the gold reserve remained at 103.6 tons. Given the evolution of international prices, its value stood at 13,171 million euros. Romania's international reserves (currency plus gold) as of April 30, 2026 were 78,007 million euros, compared to 80,278 million euros on March 31, 2026.

- Euro - at the lowest exchange rate of the month against the leu: 5.1998 lei, according to NBR data.

• May 5

- The Government approves the SAFE agreement with the European Commission, through which our country can access up to 16.68 billion euros for the development of the defense industry, logistics infrastructure and strategic capabilities.

- The motion of censure initiated by the PSD, AUR and PACE parliamentarians - Romania First against the Government led by the liberal Ilie Bolojan is adopted.

• May 6

- The euro rises to the maximum exchange rate of the month, against the leu: 5.2688 lei, according to NBR figures.

• May 7

- The gram of gold reaches the maximum price of the month: 680.6943 lei, according to NBR.

• May 12

- The franc reaches the minimum exchange rate of the month against our currency: 5.6803 lei, according to NBR.

- The dollar - at the lowest exchange rate of the month against our currency: 4.4352 lei, according to NBR.

• May 15

- The Board of Directors of the National Bank of Romania decides the following: to maintain the monetary policy interest rate at 6.50% per annum; to maintain the interest rate for the lending facility (Lombard) at 7.50% per annum and the interest rate for the deposit facility at 5.50% per annum; to maintain the current levels of the minimum reserve requirements for lei and foreign currency liabilities of credit institutions.

• May 16

- Standard & Poor's reconfirms Romania's sovereign rating at BBB-/A-3, maintaining the country in the investment-grade category.

• May 18

- Consultations are held between President Nicuşor Dan and the parliamentary political parties and formations in order to outline a governing formula.

- Fitch Ratings warns that the deterioration of the macroeconomic context, namely the fall of the Romanian Government, highlights significant risks for fiscal consolidation efforts.

- The National Bank of Romania announces that, in the period January-March 2026, the current account of the balance of payments recorded a deficit of 5,338 million euros, compared to 6,153 million euros in the period January-March 2025. In its structure, the balance of goods recorded a deficit lower by 977 million euros, the balance of services - a surplus lower by 334 million euros, the balance of primary income - a deficit higher by 305 million euros, and the balance of secondary income made a positive contribution of 477 million euros.

• May 22

- The dollar - at the highest exchange rate of the month against our currency: 4.5231 lei, according to the National Bank of Romania.

• May 25

- The franc reaches the maximum exchange rate of the month against our currency: 5.7666 lei, according to the National Bank of Romania.

• May 26

- The Ministry of Finance announces that the consolidated general budget ended with a deficit of 23.95 billion lei, or 1.17% of GDP in the first four months of 2026, compared to a deficit of 55.97 billion lei, or 2.92% of GDP in the same period in 2025.

• May 27

- The National Bank of Romania announces that the broad money supply (M3) recorded, at the end of April 2026, a balance of 793,629.7 million lei. This increased by 0.02% (-0.8% in real terms) compared to March 2026, and compared to April 2025 it increased by 6.8% (-3.6% in real terms).

• May 28

- The gram of gold, quoted at the minimum level of the month: 638.4403 lei, according to the National Bank of Romania.

• May 29

- A Russian Geran-2 drone crashes into a residential building in Galati.

- The BET index, of the 20 most liquid stocks listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), rose by almost 5.7% in May, to 29,891 points, while the BET-BK, the benchmark for the performance of equity investment funds, rose by 5.8%, to 5,789 points.

- Shares of electricity supplier Hidroelectrica rose by almost 11.5%, and Electrica by 22.4%.

- Shares of oil and gas producer OMV Petrom rose by 4.7% last month, while gas producer Romgaz, OMV Petrom's partner in the Neptun Deep project, rose by 8%.

- Shares of natural gas carrier Transgaz fell 0.6%, while those of sausage and ready-meals producer Cris-Tim Family Holding fell 16.2%.

- BRD-Groupe Societe Generale shares rose 7.9%, while Banca Transilvania shares rose 3.7%.

- The BET-FI index, of former SIFs plus Fondul Proprietatea, rose 7.8% in May, to 105,768 points, with all shares in the basket rising.