Panic leads to suspension of stock exchange deals

The BET index of the top 10 companies in terms of liquidity dropped 9.25 percent, as investors panicked due to a swift depreciation of U.S. and Asian stock market indexes.

Lenders are also facing difficult times, leading central banks to cut key interest rates aimed to help banks cope with the financial turmoil. Locally, people with large bank deposits have decided to distribute their funds to more lenders or to invest money in state shares, to lower risks.

“European states are taking any measure to prevent economies from collapsing. Key rate cuts have helped stock markets recover,” said EFG Eurobank Securities Trading Manager, Laurentiu Floroiu.

Other stock markets besides Romania closed down: Russia, Indonesia, France and Ukraine. “The market is on survival mode,” said Ralph Sueppel, Chief Economist of London-based BlueCrest Capital Management Ltd., quoted by Bloomberg.

Locally, brokers are attempting to calm investors, although they admit they have never seen anything like this. The index of main listed companies was down 14 percent when deals were suspended, as shares found no buyers. Trading on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) will resume today.