As global economic instability persists and the American dollar weakens, an increasing number of Romanian investors are reevaluating their strategies, turning to assets like gold for security.

According to the latest International Retail Investor Beat, Romania is showing a heightened interest in precious metals, driven by growing pessimism about the economic outlook.

gold Seen as a safe Haven

The study, which surveyed 10,000 individual investors across 12 countries, reveals that nearly half (48%) have already adjusted or plan to adjust their portfolios in anticipation of a weaker dollar. In Romania, this figure is even higher, reaching 58% and surpassing the global average.

The most prevalent strategy among investors,both worldwide and in Romania,is to increase their exposure to gold. approximately 27% of Romanian investors indicate they will allocate more funds to this asset. Other strategies include reducing holdings in U.S. dollars (24%) and increasing investments in cryptocurrencies (21%) or shares outside the U.S. (20%).

Majority Expect Gold Prices to Rise

A significant majority between investors expects a gold recognition in the next 6-12 months: 57% globally and 66% in Romania.

A significant portion of investors anticipate an increase in gold prices over the next 6-12 months, with 57% globally and 66% in Romania holding this view. Half of Romanian investors already include gold in their portfolios, and among those who haven’t yet invested in gold, almost 44% are considering doing so in the near future.

This trend is linked to a growing belief that gold offers better protection against macroeconomic risks such as inflation, foreign exchange uncertainty, and unpredictable fiscal policies.

Shifting Trust: Europe Gains Ground

The study also reveals a decline in trust in the U.S. market as a primary source of long-term returns, falling from 45% in the last quarter of the previous year to 34% currently. Conversely, investor sentiment towards Europe has improved, with 29% now considering it the most promising region for investments, up from 20%.

For Romanian investors, the shift is even more pronounced. In the first quarter of 2025, the U.S.was the preferred destination (48%), but in the second quarter, Europe took the lead (43%), followed by the U.S. (40%) and China (25%).

From Global to Local: Perceived Risks Evolve

while global recession remains the top concern internationally (26% of respondents), Romanian investors are increasingly focused on the domestic economic context. Over 24% of local investors identify a potential recession in Romania as the greatest risk to their portfolios, followed by inflation (23%) and the global economy (22%).

This shift reflects internal political instability, a high budget deficit, and fiscal uncertainty. Concerns about a possible downgrade of the sovereign rating also contribute to a cautious investment climate.

According to Bogdan MaIoreanu, Etoro Analist, “We see an increasingly mature behavior from the Romanian individual investors. They are more attentive to risks, more diversified and seek protection in unrequited assets, such as gold.It is indeed a proof that the lessons in the recent past have not been forgotten and that the investment strategy are refined, including from a geographical point of view.”

He added that the trend toward diversification and a focus on Europe and China is driven by both more attractive valuation opportunities and expectations of relaxed monetary policies in Europe, along with economic support measures from Chinese authorities.