December in figures

• December 4th

- The BNR announces that, on November 30, 2023, the foreign exchange reserves at the National Bank of Romania stood at 58,894 million euros, compared to 58,186 million euros on October 31, 2023. The level of the gold reserve remained at 103.6 tons. Under the conditions of international price developments, its value was 6,187 million euros. Romania's international reserves (currency plus gold) on November 30, 2023 were 65,081 million euros, compared to 64,432 million euros on October 31, 2023.

- The gram of gold reaches the maximum price of the month: 303.8212 lei, according to the BNR.

• December 5

- Euro - at the lowest exchange rate of the month against the leu: 4.9672 lei, according to the BNR.

• 12 December

- The gram of gold, quoted at the minimum level of the month: 294.0805 lei, according to the BNR.

• December 13

- The National Institute of Statistics (INS) announces that the inflation rate was 6.7% at the end of November.

- The dollar - at the highest exchange rate of the month against our currency: 4.6160 lei, according to the BNR.

• December 14

- The NBR announces that, in the period January - October 2023, the current account of the balance of payments recorded a deficit of 18,340 million euros, compared to 22,971 million euros in the period January - October 2022. In its structure, the balance of goods recorded a deficit more small by 3,476 million euros, the balance of services - a larger surplus by 1,160 million euros, the balance of primary incomes - a smaller deficit by 61 million euros, and the balance of secondary incomes - a smaller surplus by 66 million euros.

• December 15

- The exchange rate of the Swiss franc reaches the lowest level of the month against our currency: 5.2334 lei, according to the BNR.

• December 20

- The Plenary of the Parliament votes the new leadership of the Financial Supervision Authority (ASF): Alexandru Petrescu - president, Gabriel Avrămescu - first vice-president, Gabriela Horga - vice-president for the capital market, Sorin Mititelu - vice-president for the insurance market, Daniel Armeanu - vice-president for private pension funds.

- The Parliament adopts the state budget for the year 2024, which foresees an increase of the Gross Domestic Product by 3.4% and a cash budget deficit of 5%.

• December 26

- Eight people lost their lives in a fire that affected an accommodation unit located at Ferma Dacilor in the town of Gura Vadului, a unit which, although it had a classification from the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, was operating illegally, not having a construction and construction permit fire safety.

• December 27

- The Council of the European Union announces that an agreement has been reached with Austria and the Netherlands for Romania and Bulgaria to join the Schengen area of free movement of people and goods, only with air and sea borders, starting on March 31, 2024.

- The BNR announces that the money supply in a broad sense (M3) recorded, at the end of November 2023, a balance of 648,147.4 million lei. This increased by 1.1% (similar evolution in real terms) compared to October 2023, and compared to November 2022 it increased by 10.9% (3.9% in real terms).

• December 28

- The Ministry of Finance announces that the general consolidated budget deficit rose to 4.64% of GDP after the first 11 months of the current year, respectively to 73.55 billion lei, from 58.7 billion lei (4.19% of GDP ) in the first 11 months of 2022.

- Euro reaches the maximum exchange rate of the month against the leu: 4.9753 lei, according to BNR figures.

- The dollar - at the lowest exchange rate of the month against our currency: 4.4726 lei, according to the BNR.

• December 29

- The franc reaches the maximum exchange rate of the month against our currency: 5.3666 lei, according to BNR data.

- The BET index, of the 20 most liquid securities from the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), increased 4.5% in December, to 15,371 points, after, during the month, the main share basket of our market marked a new historical record of 15,531 points.

- The BET-NG index, of energy and utility companies, rose by 3.6%, and the BETAeRO, of companies considered relevant for the Multilateral Trading System of BVB, by 3.9%.

- The BET-XT index, which reflects the evolution of the 30 most liquid securities of our market, had an advance of 4.4% in December, to 1,324 points, after, during the month, the share basket reached a new historical record of 1,335 points.

- Sphera Franchise Group (SFG) shares increased by 25.4% in December, to 25.7 lei, the highest level since the summer of 2018.

- Electrica (EL) shares rose by 17.4%, to 11.48 lei, TeraPlast (TRP) shares - by 9.9%, to 0.515 lei, and those of Transport Trade Services (TTS) - by 8.4 %, to 27 lei.

- BRD-Groupe Societe Generale (BRD) shares rose by almost 8% in December, to 17.92 lei, Banca Transilvania (TLV) - by 5.6%, up to 24.26 lei.

- Romgaz (SNG) shares had an advance of 4.4%, to 50.1 lei, OMV Petrom (SNP) shares - 6.2%, to 0.5745 lei.

- Transgaz shares (TGN) appreciated by 3.5% in December, to 18.9 lei, Conpet securities (COTE) - by 5.7%, to 81.8 lei.

- The BET-FI index, of SIFs plus Fondul Proprietatea, rose by 2.4%, to 59,309 points.