Romanian cbanker says inflation seen close to goal

...Vice-Governor Cristian Popa said on Tuesday.

"Inflation is expected close to goal, even though a slight pickup is expected towards the end of the year," he told a banking conference in Prague.

The central bank surprised the market with a 50 basis point interest rate cut on Monday.

Popa said the cut was aimed at reducing "somewhat" speculative, hot-money inflows attracted by the yield pickup on holdings in domestic currency over the lower euro zone rates.

He added that it may seem "stunning", but the country's current account deficit of more 10 percent of gross domestic product looked sustainable on the financing side.