October in numbers

October 1

- The National Bank of Romania (BNR) announces that, as of September 30, 2026, its foreign currency reserves stood at 60,060 million euros, compared to 64,865 million euros on August 31, 2026. The level of gold reserves remained unchanged at 103.6 tonnes. Given international price trends, the value of these gold holdings amounted to 12,280 million euros. Romania's international reserves (foreign currency plus gold) totaled 72,340 million euros as of September 30, 2026, down from 77,627 million euros on August 31, 2026.

- The Swiss franc reached its lowest exchange rate of the month against the Romanian leu: 5.5896 lei, according to the BNR.

- The euro hit its lowest exchange rate of the month against the leu: 5.2777 lei, based on BNR data.

- The US dollar reached its lowest exchange rate of the month against the Romanian currency: 4.6765 lei, according to the BNR.

October 2

- Credit rating agency Standard & Poor's affirmed its long-term and short-term sovereign ratings at BBB-/A-3 for both local and foreign currency debt.

October 6

- The euro climbed to its highest exchange rate of the month against the leu: 5.3527 lei, according to BNR figures.

October 8

- The Board of the National Bank of Romania decided the following: to maintain the monetary policy interest rate at 6.50% per annum. maintaining the interest rate on the lending facility (Lombard facility) at 7.50% per annum and the interest rate on the deposit facility at 5.50%; maintaining the current levels of the minimum reserve requirement ratios for the leu-denominated and foreign currency-denominated liabilities of credit institutions.

- CITR, the judicial liquidator of Damen Shipyards Mangalia, announces the sale of the shipyard following an auction won by Rheinmetall Real Estate România SRL for 138,034,320.47 euros, excluding VAT.

October 13

- The price of a gram of gold reaches its monthly high: 642.8367 lei, according to the NBR (National Bank of Romania).

October 15

- The NBR announces that, during the January-August 2026 period, the current account of the balance of payments recorded a deficit of 19,925 million euros, compared to 18,983 million euros in the January-August 2025 period. Within this structure, the balance of goods recorded a deficit that was 818 million euros larger; the balance of services showed a surplus that was 712 million euros larger; the primary income balance recorded a deficit that was 295 million euros larger; and the secondary income balance contributed a negative 541 million euros.

October 20

- The cabinet led by Luca Niculescu receives a vote of investiture from Parliament.

October 22

- The Swiss franc reaches its monthly high against the national currency: 5.8104 lei, according to NBR data. October 23

- The National Bank of Romania (BNR) announces that the broad money supply (M3) reached a balance of 816,213.4 million lei at the end of September 2026. This represents an increase of 0.4% (-0.4% in real terms) compared to August 2026, and an 8.4% increase (1.7% in real terms) relative to September 2025.

October 26

- BNR Governor Mugur Isărescu meets with Prime Minister Luca Niculescu to discuss key macroeconomic developments, the dynamics of external financing, the state of the banking sector, economic growth prospects, and issues concerning fiscal-financial discipline required to remain on the budgetary trajectory agreed upon with the European Commission.

- The Ministry of Finance announces that the general consolidated budget recorded a deficit of 78.3 billion lei-equivalent to 3.81% of GDP-for the first nine months of 2026, compared to a deficit of 102.47 billion lei (5.31% of GDP) during the same period in 2025.

October 28

- The US dollar reaches its highest exchange rate of the month against the national currency: 4.8088 lei, according to the BNR.

October 30

- The Government adopts its first budget revision via Emergency Ordinance (OUG) no. 41/2026, which mandates a reduction in revenues by 3.427 billion lei and a decrease in expenditures-in terms of budgetary credits-by 1.936 billion lei. The deficit for this budget is increasing by 1.491 billion lei.

- The price of a gram of gold reached its lowest level for the month at 609.5706 lei, according to the National Bank of Romania (BNR).

- The BET index, which tracks the 20 most liquid stocks listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), rose by nearly 13% in October to 35,129 points, while the BET-BK index-a performance benchmark for equity investment funds-gained 9.8%, reaching 6,553 points.

- The BET-NG index, which reflects the performance of major companies in the energy and utilities sector, climbed 18.8% last month to 2,822 points, marking the largest gain among the BVB's stock indices.

- Transgaz shares rose by 22.5% last month, recording the strongest growth within the BET index.

- Romgaz shares climbed 21.4%, while those of OMV Petrom-Romgaz's partner in the Neptun Deep project-gained 15.7%.

- Hidroelectrica shares rose by 16%, and Nuclearelectrica shares increased by 22.1%.

- The BET-FI index, comprising the former SIFs (Investment Financial Companies) and Fondul Proprietatea, saw a 4.2% gain, reaching 113,796 points-the smallest increase among the stock indices on the BVB's Regulated Market for the month of October.