Moldovan leu continues to be most indicated currency for savings, say experts

The deposits in lei could give high yields owing to the difference in interests on the home market and in the Euro zone and to the appreciation of the national currency, say experts of the Association for Participatory Democracy (ADEPT). According to them, the net yields on the money deposited in banks increased in line with inflation. The deposits in lei for a period of six to twelve months opened in October and November produced higher profits. The deposits in lei increased by an average of 0.5% compared with August. The interest rates rose following the unexpectedly high inflation. Consumer prices over August-November increased by 6.7% cumulatively. Inflation at the end of November hit 12.1%. Most of the analysts consider that the Moldovan leu is the most indicated currency for long-term deposits due to its constant appreciation on the one hand and to the high interest rates on the other hand. However, those that save money in foreign currency or have to repay loans in foreign currency are advised to keep a small part of the savings in the given currency in order to avoid the short and medium-term variations and risks of the foreign currency market. The interest rate on loans also grew. In October- November, a number of banks raised the effective charges on new loans released in national currency, for the first time this year. Consumption credits make up over 50% of the total credits released. But these credits are deemed risky for the population because the Moldovans borrow more and more money from banks for a long term to purchase consumer goods. The tendency to take out long-term loans to acquire consumer goods could have a harmful effect on the population because the assets purchased this way, as for instance electric appliances or cars, depreciate quicker than the rate at which the debtors pay the debts. In addition, the population owes more money to banks that it deposits in bank accounts. The structure of the credits taken out by the population is less qualitative than in the EU states, the ADEPT experts say. According to them, the still high interest rates on credits increase the insolvency risk when repaying credits (the total lending costs are among the highest in Europe). The higher interest rates are blamed on the National Bank’s restrictive policy, also because the minimum reserves imposed on the banks in Moldova are the largest. Such a situation contributes to higher lending costs.