On Wednesday, the U.S. dollar continued to strengthen, reaching a new 13-month high against a basket of major currencies. Investors sought shelter from the sharp decline in tech stocks and braced for a possible interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve (Fed).
Germany plans to further raise the retirement age to balance the system in light of its aging population. By the end of the century, the retirement age could rise to 70. These plans are currently under active discussion. The government plans to approve a bill, but it must pass through all stages of parliamentary approval, which has drawn harsh criticism from labor unions.
In May, Moldova’s foreign exchange market saw a decline in trading volumes, reflected in a 16% drop in net demand from companies. At the same time, 91.1% of the net demand from economic agents (legal entities) was met by supply from individuals. The National Bank publishes data on foreign exchange market conditions, noting that it did not intervene in the market during the reporting month.
Ahead of major changes that are set to revamp the functioning of the Moldovan capital market, LOGOS PRESS presents an interview with Dumitru Budianschi, chairman of the National Commission for the Financial Market.
On Tuesday, during pre-market trading, shares of SpaceX, a company specializing in space technology and artificial intelligence, fell another 4% following a $400 billion sell-off. This came after the company’s shares fell 16% on Monday as initially optimistic sentiment toward the company waned. SpaceX’s market capitalization stood at $2 trillion at the close of trading on Monday.
Despite a significant slowdown in economic growth in the first quarter of the year (+0.4%), the central bank nevertheless identified a host of pro-inflationary factors and made the fight against inflation its top priority.
According to information from the Ministry of Finance, Moldova’s external public debt balance as of the end of April 2026 had increased by $151.7 million (+3.2%) since the beginning of the year, reaching approximately $5 billion. Of this amount, 93% consists of loans from the European Commission, to which Moldova’s debt has increased ninefold over the past five years.
The dollar remained stable on Monday thanks to investors’ optimistic expectations regarding a deal between the U.S. and Iran, while the pound was caught in the political crossfire and fell sharply following the resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
On June 25, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will begin legal proceedings against The Coca-Cola Company in a tax evasion case. At stake is the payment of additional taxes and penalties totaling more than $20 billion.
The all-time record for the largest lottery jackpot in world history is $2.04 billion. It was won on November 7, 2022, in the U.S. Powerball lottery. The winning ticket was purchased in California. The winner, Edwin Castro, chose to receive his winnings as a lump-sum payment of $997.6 million.
These days (June 18–21, 2026), finance ministers and central bank governors from the member countries of the Belgian-Dutch subgroup of the IMF and the World Bank have gathered in Varna, Bulgaria. The main goal of the meeting is to turn uncertainty into long-term opportunities for regional economies. Anca Dragu, Governor of the National Bank of Moldova, held a series of bilateral meetings with finance ministers and senior IMF officials during the forum.
People continue to actively withdraw funds from their accounts and deposits for personal needs. According to data from the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), the volume of cash withdrawals from bank vaults in May 2026 exceeded the volume of deposits by 412 million lei. This cash flow imbalance has persisted from month to month, fluctuating between increases and decreases.
Once tensions in the Middle East have de-escalated, prices will react in different ways to the “easing of international tensions.” Speculative pressure on energy resources will disappear, while food prices will remain high due to logistical challenges, market inertia, and a protracted recovery in production.
Industrial production in Moldova has been growing since the beginning of 2026, but experts do not consider this growth to be stable due to deep-rooted structural problems in the sector. According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), industrial production increased by 7% year-over-year in January–April 2026.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated that Budapest had succeeded in having the wording regarding the accelerated accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union removed from the European Council’s final declaration. According to Magyar in X, all member states of the bloc have agreed on the revised version of the document.
The National Bank of Moldova (NBM) and the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA) will conduct joint training and educational activities to improve the financial skills of entrepreneurs, including small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, and the self-employed. The heads of the two institutions—Anca Dragu and Vadim Codreanu—signed a corresponding Memorandum of Cooperation.
At its meeting on June 18, 2026, the Executive Committee of the National Bank of Moldova unanimously raised the base rate from 6.5% to 7% per annum. The reserve requirement ratios for funds raised in Moldovan lei and in convertible foreign currency were maintained at their current levels—18% and 26% of the reserve base, respectively.
Demand for oil is falling faster than expected. Global supply in the oil market could significantly exceed demand if lasting peace is established in the Middle East. The global oil market could face an oversupply if the agreement between the U.S. and Iran remains in effect and shipments through the Strait of Hormuz begin to resume. This is the conclusion reached by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its monthly report.
The Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization announces the launch of public consultations on a comprehensive package of measures aimed at further digitalization and deregulation of business processes. According to the ministry, the proposed draft regulations eliminate operational and tax barriers and reduce regulatory requirements for e-commerce, including on social media.
European Union countries have increased gas reserves in their underground storage facilities (UGS) to an average of 45.03% in preparation for the coming winter. However, despite the gas injection season, their fill levels turned out to be significantly lower than the figures for the past five years, according to data from Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE).
