(Adds press digest)
BUCHAREST, May 10 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Romanian financial markets on Friday.
CPI
The National Statistics Board will release inflation data for April at 0700 GMT.
A median forecast of 16 analysts polled by Reuters showed Romanian inflation at 5.4 percent year-on-year in April vs 5.3 percent in March. The monthly forecast is 0.2 percent.
TRADE, ENERGY DATA
The National Statistics Board will release foreign trade and energy resource data for March.
CHEVRON PLANS TO START ROMANIA SHALE GAS EXPLORATION
U.S. oil major Chevron said on Thursday it plans to start exploration for shale gas in Romania, where the government has sounded increasingly amenable to allowing mining by fracking.
CENTRAL EUROPE POWER MARKETS TO STAY NICHE AS BANKS EXIT
Central and southeastern Europe, once seen to have big potential as a regional power market, will provide only niche opportunities as reluctance to integrate pushes out financial players needed to fuel liquidity.
ROMANIA YIELDS FOR 5-YR T-BONDS FALL TO NEW RECORD LOW
Romania sold a planned 800 million lei ($243.95 million) in five-year treasury bonds on Thursday, with the average accepted yield at 4.45 percent, central bank data showed, down 64 basis points from a previous tender on April 18 and a new record low.
ROMANIA SELLS 500 MLN LEI IN 6-MONTH T-BILLS
Romania sold a planned 500 million lei ($152.47 million) in six-month treasury bills on Thursday, with the average accepted yield at 4.00 percent, a new record low and sharply down from 5.02 percent at a one-year tender on March 18, central bank data showed.
ROMANIA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE EDGES DOWN IN APRIL
Romania's unemployment rate edged down to 5.3 percent in April, from 5.6 percent in March, the National Employment Agency said on Thursday.
CEE MARKETS
The Polish zloty held its ground against the euro on Thursday, one day after the central bank cut interest rates, while Polish and Romanian debt yields touched new record lows, buoyed by strong investor demand.
NON PERFORMING LOANS
Non performing loans will continue to grow for a few more months and after that they should reach a peak and start decreasing gradually, deputy Governor Cristian Popa said.
Ziarul Financiar, Page 6
BANCA TRANSILVANIA
Romanian private lender Banca Transilvania sold 10.5 million euros in the first phase of a 30 million euros 7-year bonds issue convertible into shares. The subscription period for the rest of the issuance ends on May 21.
Ziarul Financiar, Page 4
HIDROELECTRICA
The government could sale a 15 percent stake in Romania's state-owned hydro power producer Hidroelectrica, above an initial planned 10 percent stake, said Remus Borza, the judicial administrator of the company. A final decision will be made by shareholders. Ziarul Financiar, Page 4
RAIFFEISEN BANK
Raiffeisen Bank could launch a five-year bond issue of up to 500 million lei on the local market. Ziarul Financiar, Page 6
JUSTICE
The nominees for chief prosecutor and head of the DNA anti-corruption prosecuting office made by the prime minister got the approval from the Supreme Magistrates Council after their interviews from Wednesday and Thursday.
Evenimentul Zilei, Page 2
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