The National Bank of Moldova (NBM) has launched public consultations on a draft EU regulation for payment systems. These consultations concern data exchange between competent authorities and the freedom to provide services in the financial sector. This initiative is directly linked to the large-scale modernization of Moldova’s payments market.
What steps should the future government take to revive the economy? The independent think tank Expert Grup has prepared an interactive infographic titled “Seven Economic Priorities That Should Guide the Cabinet of Ministers in Its Work.”
According to Eurostat, Greece led Europe in terms of rising unemployment in the first quarter of this year, emerging as the European labor market that was “impoverishing” the fastest.
Moldovan banks have begun implementing new corporate operating standards set forth in the NBM regulations, which are aimed at transposing European directives and promoting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) responsibility among financial institutions.
According to a forecast by Bloomberg Economics, the global economy is set to face a prolonged period of higher interest rates. According to the agency, by the end of 2026, this rate will stand at 5.10%, up from the 4.41% projected in January—that is, before the outbreak of hostilities in Iran.
Goldman Sachs has lowered its forecast for the yen to 165 yen per dollar and joins a growing number of investors who are increasingly skeptical of the yen, which has already hit its lowest levels since 1986.
Leading OPEC+ members agreed to another moderate increase in oil production quotas for next month. On Sunday, during a video conference, seven countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed to increase the production target by 188,000 barrels per day. This decision increases the likelihood of rising supply in the market, provided the interim peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran remains in place. Since the start of the military conflict, the alliance has increased its quotas by a total of 940,000 barrels per day—a volume equivalent to nearly 1% of global demand.
Insurance brokers account for more than half of insurance premiums in Moldova (about 60%), but they receive only a portion of the sales amount as commissions. As of the end of the first quarter of 2026, the use of intermediaries peaked in the life insurance sector, with 94% of policies being sold through insurance agents.
European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has not ruled out the possibility of stepping down early to participate in France’s political process. At the same time, the ECB president ruled out running for office herself or endorsing another candidate.
Weak employment data, which reduces the likelihood of a Fed rate hike, was the most likely cause of the U.S. dollar’s decline. The dollar index fell 0.6% over the week, its biggest drop since April.
The National Commission for Financial Markets (NCFM) is warning citizens about a new scam being promoted on the Telegram platform. The scheme involves a forged document presented as an NFMC decision, in which the agency allegedly authorized the “Storm Gain – MD” platform to operate as a provider in the virtual asset and crypto derivatives market.
Turkey has submitted an official application to the European Payments Council (EPC) expressing its intention to join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). The document emphasizes that Ankara’s participation in this area will enable faster, safer, and cheaper cross-border transfers, which will give a powerful boost to mutual trade and investment with European Union countries.
Based on the results of the first quarter of 2026, insurers increased their profitability, overcoming regulatory costs and the sector’s rising loss ratios in recent years. Insurance companies nearly doubled last year’s figures, posting a combined net profit of 68.7 million lei, as reported by eight of the nine operating companies.
Municipal bonds are a promising financial instrument characterized by low costs, transparent allocation of funds, and—just as importantly—effective oversight of their use. They are already emerging as a clear alternative to bank loans for local governments.
Google lost its appeal against a record EU antitrust fine of $4.7 billion, a case that had been ongoing since 2015. The European Court of Justice upheld the fine imposed on Google of approximately 4.1 billion euros ($4.67 billion) for alleged anti-competitive practices.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to announce in September plans to introduce EU-wide age restrictions on the use of social media. The discussion is expected to focus on developing rules that would require digital platforms to prevent children under a certain age from creating accounts. However, the final form of the initiative has not yet been determined.
Nearly one in three Europeans expects their standard of living to decline, and 17% of citizens continue to view the EU in a generally negative light. A survey of more than 26,000 residents of EU countries revealed a significant gap in levels of pessimism across generations, countries, and regions.
Europe is resisting the widespread installation of air conditioners. This is due to environmental concerns, high energy costs, and strict municipal laws.
According to preliminary data, in the first quarter of 2026, Moldova’s current account deficit decreased by 17.1% compared to the same period last year, amounting to -806.2 million euros. This change was driven by a reduction in the foreign trade deficit.
The total assets of Moldova’s banking sector reached 189,899.0 million lei at the end of 2025, an increase of 11.5% compared to the previous period. This trend reflects confidence in the stability of the financial system and the banks’ ability to support the growth of the national economy, according to the annual report of the National Bank of Moldova.
