BNR last reported such a high exchange rate on December 16 last year, when the euro was traded for 4.2459 lei. Yesterday, BNR's reference level was of 4.2372 lei per euro.

The national currency advanced slightly after the first transactions, from 4.2370 to 4.2350 per euro, and then slipped gradually to 4.2480. At 1:30 p.m. banks were selling the euro with 4.2440 lei.

In the region, the Polish zloty waved between 4.0675 and 4.0840 per euro, while the Hungarian forint soared from 279.80 to 279.25 versus the euro and then eased at 281.15.

For the U.S. dollar, BNR's exchange rate added 0.30 percent to 3.4299 lei per dollar, from 3.4196 in the previous session.

On the international market, the American dollar declined from 1.2373 to 1.2405 versus the euro and then inched to 1.2370 per euro at 1:30 p.m. Romania's hour.

Overnight interests lowered significantly and parked below the key interest rate of 6.25 percent a year.

BNR posted an average interbank bid rate (ROBID) of 2.14 percent a year, down from 2.23 percent in the previous session, and an interbank offer rate for overnight deposits (ROBOR) of 2.64 percent, below the previous 2.73 percent.