Economic observer, freelance correspondent, 30 years in the profession. Specialises in economic policy and macroeconomics, writes on finance and financial markets. Has worked at Logos Press since the mid-1990s.
This year’s state budget will be replenished with another tranche of the European aid in the amount of 5.6 billion lei, which the authorities plan to spend on “strategic reforms” within the Economic Growth Plan. This was announced by State Secretary of the Finance Ministry Ion Gumene.

Japan will release oil from the state reserve on March 26, such a decision was made at a meeting of line ministers headed by Prime Minister Takaichi on stabilizing oil supplies in connection with the crisis in the Middle East, Kyodo news agency reported.

Following Trump’s ultimatum, Iran said that along with military bases, U.S.-affiliated financial institutions holding U.S. government bonds would be targeted.

Escalating conflict in the Middle East is driving investor demand for defensive assets as the war drags on. The dollar index, which measures the value of the U.S. currency against a basket of currencies, rose 0.03% to 99.53. The euro fell 0.06% to $1.1563. The yen rose 0.06% to 159.11 per dollar, while sterling weakened 0.06% to $1.3331.

The National Commission of Financial Market (NCFM) and the Inspectorate General of Police (IGP) are joining forces in the fight against financial fraud and cybercrime in Moldova. The agencies have agreed on a mechanism for joint actions and formalized it with a formal cooperation agreement.

In February 2026, Moldova’s energy sector recorded a sustained deflationary dynamic: producer prices decreased by more than 5% with respect to all key comparison periods (January 2026, December and February 2025).

Ships that are not linked to “Iran’s enemies” can pass through the Strait of Hormuz with the agreement of security measures with Tehran. This was stated by the representative of the Islamic Republic to the International Maritime Organization Ali Mousavi, Reuters reports.

The Euro showed surprising stability last week, contrary to the broader change in sentiment over the energy crisis and was the target of a sell-off within a basket of G10 currencies.

The European Central Bank (ECB) kept rates unchanged, warning that tensions in the Middle East and risks in the oil market could stoke inflation. The baseline forecast is for 2.6% in 2026, but with energy shocks, inflation could rise to 3.5-4.4% depending on the duration of supply disruptions.

European scientists are developing bio-based fertilizers that would reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian imports. One promising solution is algae grown on wastewater.

Against the backdrop of the ban by the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to buy Russian energy, traders are looking at thermal coal.

The National Bank of Moldova (NBM) is introducing a national Open Banking standard, obliging 15 payment service providers to implement secure API interfaces. This allows users to securely manage accounts with different banks through a single application, which is in line with the European Directive.

In February 2026, a significant cash outflow was recorded in Moldova: the volume of withdrawals exceeded their receipt in banks by 1,028 million lei, which emphasizes the increase in the population’s preference for cash.

The winners of Skytrax World Airport Awards and AirlineRatings.com’s World’s Best Airline Awards by continent, region and category have been announced.

As a result of rising energy prices in the context of the geopolitical situation, inflationary pressures may intensify until the first quarter of 2027, in this regard, the National Bank of Moldova (NBM) partially updated its February forecast and went on high alert .

New standards of consumer protection, on the one hand, and control over the activities of professional participants, on the other hand, are unlikely to cool down demand in the financial market. But, undoubtedly, they will add confidence to both sides of “money relations”.

The Executive Committee of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM) at its March 19 meeting kept the prime rate at 5% per annum, leaving at the current level the norms of mandatory reserve requirements for commercial banks of the Republic of Moldova.

The quota trading system has divided EU countries at today’s summit. The 27 leaders agree that energy prices are a serious problem, but disagree on how to solve it.

EU leaders gathered for a summit today to try to persuade Viktor Orban to lift his veto on a 90 billion euros allocation to Ukraine and to discuss the escalating military conflict in the Middle East and high energy prices.

The National Financial Market Commission (NFMC) has launched an online DAE (effective annual interest rate) calculator to help consumers objectively assess the cost of loans.
