The currency exchange facilities and banks today buy the euro for 18.44 - 18.54 lei and sell it for 18.58 - 18.68 lei, IPN reports.

The currency exchange rate set by the National Bank of Moldova for February 19 is 18.54 lei per euro. It is for the first time since 2001, when the euro was put into circulation, that the exchange rate of the euro against the leu is so high.

In a news conference earlier, National Bank governor Dorin Dragutanu said there are no reasons for concern about the current depreciation of the national currency. He forecast that if no shocks appear in the near future, such as export restrictions, the depreciation process will become reverse.