Exchange rate
The rise of the first cryptocurrency above $73,000 is a short-term rebound, not the start of a new bull market. This is the conclusion reached by CryptoQuant analysts.
Transfers through the European system SEPA, which Moldova joined in March last year, currently account for over 80% of all transferred funds from and to Europe. The National Bank of Moldova (NBM) reports this as its main achievement on the way to the EU, publishing relevant data.
In an attempt to stop the fall of the Indian rupee amid rising oil prices and increasing geopolitical tensions, the Reserve Bank of India conducted a large-scale currency intervention. After the regulator’s intervention, the national currency strengthened, but analysts warn that the pressure on the market may persist.
Only due to the depreciation of the U.S. currency, in which the country’s external public debt is calculated, the amount of external borrowings increased significantly, amounting to $4.862 billion in January.
The world grain market has come out of the multi-month trend of wheat prices decrease. Consequently, farmers of the Black Sea countries, including Moldova, will face the question – to sell or not to sell wheat at current prices, or to “take a pause” in the hope for a significant jump in prices in the foreseeable future?
European financial markets are under strain as the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran renews fears that an energy shock could exacerbate inflation. The region is almost entirely dependent on oil and gas imports. The price of Brent crude has risen nearly 10% since Friday, while natural gas prices in Europe have jumped 50%.
This year, the state budget envisages 56.4 million lei for the payment of Moldova’s membership fees to international organizations. This is by 2.4 million lei (4.4 percent) more than the approved amount for 2025 and by 5.4 million lei (10.7 percent) more than the actual expenditures of the previous year.
The sharp increase in geopolitical tension in the world after the start of the Israeli and US military operation against Iran affected a noticeable jump in quotations of oil and gold mining companies on the Moscow Exchange.
In the final report on the country following the expert mission, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) confirmed the NBM’s commitment to the principles of credibility and institutional transparency. The experts recognized the methods used as being in line with the modern international practice, allowing the domestic central bank to conduct an efficient monetary policy and contribute to the stability of the country’s financial system.
In the short term, the growth of exchange quotations for wheat will continue. Grain prices are always tightly linked to oil prices and the US dollar exchange rate. Attacks on Iran have already been converted by rising oil prices and strengthening of the dollar. In this nexus, a rise in the prices of fast traded agri-food commodities is inevitable.
After new military strikes by the U.S. and Israel on the territory of Iran, the U.S. dollar will receive short-term support. This was stated by analysts of major banks, reports Logos Press.
World gold prices stabilized on Wednesday morning after a sharp decline the previous day. Investors are ambivalent about the new U.S. tariff policy, Logos Press reports.
S&P Global Ratings has upgraded Armenia’s rating outlook from “stable” to “positive”, expecting GDP growth of 5.3% in 2026 and 4.8% in 2027, amid further normalization of relations with Azerbaijan, Logos Press reports.
Since 2024, the dollar has partially lost its role as a safe haven asset, but ING notes there has been no global decline in demand for the U.S. currency, according to Logos Press.
The volume of cash receipts at banks’ cash desks in January exceeded their disbursements by 96 million lei, down 6.8% (by 951 million lei) compared to the same month of the previous year, Logos Press reported.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Trump’s “duties” and a new 15% tariff from the U.S. president have shaken up financial markets again, with emerging market currencies strengthening, Asian stock indexes showing gains, and investors shifting capital into safe haven assets, Logos Press reports.
The foreign currency cash market in January saw a decline in activity characteristic of the beginning of the year, accompanied by a reduction in buy-sell transactions and an increase in savings sentiment, according to Logos Press.
The US has long been the main driver of global economic growth, including now, thanks to the boom in artificial intelligence (AI). This boom shows no signs of cooling, and it is financed by dollars, which remain the central pillar of global finance.
In global currency markets, the U.S. dollar rose more than 1% this week. This was helped by positive economic data, a tougher stance from the Federal Reserve and tensions between the US and Iran, which kept markets on edge, Logos Press reports.
