The Romanian Central Bank (BNR) has kept the key interest rate at 6.25 percent, as expected by

onstruction permits issued for residential buildings in August this year stood at 4,670, up 9.5 percent from July 2010 and 0.4 percent from the same month last year, according to the National Statistics Institute (INS).

Romanian meteorologists have issued an advisory for rain and gusty wind, valid from Wednesday evening until Thursday morning for the country’s southern and south-eastern regions.

Einuiea band will perform on October 3 during the screening of the movie “Nosferatu, symphony of horror” within the “Dracula – king and vampire” exhibition at the National Museum of Art (MNAR), the museum has announced. The performance will be hosted by the museum hall dedicated to the evolution of Dracula's image and of vampires in the international cinema.

The image of a discretely tattooed motorbike rider who loves skydiving and martial arts is not that common yet among business people in Romania. But Simone Favat, the general manager of IQ Facilities Management, deals well with combining a couple of outdoor activities not for the faint-hearted with a more down-to-Earth activity: the real estate asset management business.

Construction materials producer Somaco Grup Prefabricate sold 37 percent more aerated concrete blocks (BCA) products in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period of last year, the company has announced. Somaco plans to reach a sales increase of 10 percent throughout the entire year and estimates it will increase its turnover by up to 18 percent this year on last year.

Watercooler company La Fantana has bought the water purification importer and distributor Rokor Ecostyle, the company has announced. The enterprise value of the bought company was of EUR 4.35 million. The seller was Romanian investor Serban Andrei. Rokor Ecostyle will keep its brand and operate under La Fantana umbrella. The buyer says it will hold an 80 percent market share on the water purification market.

*Five bankers cashed in over EUR 1 million in 2009 for their 2008 results – in Ziarul Financiar
*Alcatel Lucent continues to hire software producers and engineers – in Ziarul Financiar
*Horvath & Partners: Romania ranks third in region in terms of investment potential – in Ziarul Financiar
*Gregory's changes director and strategy – continues with franchises – in Ziarul Financiar
*Romania, the sixth largest beneficiary of EU funds with EUR 1.7 bln. The absorption capacity by mid-year – 10.1% – in Ziarul Financiar

The Bate Saua Sa Priceapa Iapa local biking association will organize a biking march on Wednesday, September 29, starting 18,00 hours. (So there's still a bit of time to prepare for the event.)

Mircea Cartarescu is one of the best known contemporary Romanian authors. He is a poet, novelist and essayst, member of the Romanian Writers’ Union and of the European Cultural Parliament. His works have been translated into more than 14 languages, bringing him international fame.

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc has changed his mind about using a police escort after initially announcing he had given up on a police traffic escort after some members of the Romanian Police had rallied in Bucharest last week. "It was a way to show my disapproval of those who breached the law and express my standpoint concerning those who were supposed to defend the law but violated it," said the prime minister.

The new Bucharest Obor Market will be opened at the beginning of October, when the two-floorey building which was developed on the site will be finalized. The project, a partnership between the Bucharest Sector 2 city hall and a group of local developers, will feature traditional grocery sales areas, hosting some of the individuals producers which used to sell fruits and vegetables in the old Obor Market.