The Bucharest Exchange Trading Index (BET) is a stock market index that tracks the performance of the most liquid stocks listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB). It is the first and primary benchmark for the Romanian capital market. The index is designed to serve as a performance and transparency benchmark and can be used as an underlying asset for derivatives and structured products.
The BET index crossed the 20,000-point threshold for the first time in 2025, eventually closing the year at a historic high of 24,439, marking its strongest annual growth rate since 2009. The total return index version, BET-TR, has performed even more strongly. Over the decade ending in 2025, the BET-TR index compounded significantly, placing it among the top best-performing global equity indices, alongside the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500.
History The BET index was introduced on 19 September 1997, two years after the re-establishment of the Bucharest Stock Exchange, with an initial value of 1,000 points. It started with ten companies and a total market capitalization of 443 million Romanian lei (RON). Over time, the number of constituents has varied between a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 companies, based on liquidity and quality criteria.
In 2015, the index methodology was enhanced to include qualitative criteria related to transparency, reporting quality and investor communication, in addition to the quantitative liquidity metrics. Since its launch, 36 different issuers have been part of the BET index at various points in time.
Methodology The BET index is a free-float capitalization-weighted price index, calculated in real time during Bucharest Stock Exchange trading hours in Romanian leu (RON). Euro and U.S. dollars versions are published daily after the market close using exchange rates from the National Bank of Romania.
Each constituent weight is determined by two factors, the free-float factor and a representation factor that caps any single company weight at 20% of the total index capitalisation to ensure diversification. Unlike the BET-TR, the index is not adjusted for dividends, but operational adjustments are made for corporate events such as stock splits, consolidations, and capital increases to maintain continuity and avoid artificial price distortions.
Composition the Bucharest Exchange Trading Index consists of the following 20 companies, with a weighting as shown:
Company Symbol Sector (GICS) Market Cap Listed since Index weighting Banca Transilvania Financials 15 October 1997 21.02% OMV Petrom Energy 3 September 2001 15.47% Romgaz Energy 12 November 2013 12.11% Hidroelectrica Energy 12 July 2023 11.80% Transgaz Energy 24 January 2008 7.01% BRD – Groupe Société Générale Financials 15 January 2001 6.82% Digi Communications Communication Services 16 May 2017 4.65% Electrica Utilities 4 July 2014 4.19% MedLife Health Care 21 December 2016 3.81% Nuclearelectrica Energy 4 November 2013 3.64% Transelectrica Energy 29 August 2006 2.28% Premier Energy Utilities 28 May 2024 1.39% Fondul Proprietatea Financials 25 January 2011 1.22% One United Properties Real Estate 12 July 2021 1.13% Aquila Part Prod Com Consumer Staples 29 November 2021 0.77% Teraplast Industrials 2 July 2008 0.62% Transport Trade Services Industrials 14 June 2021 0.59% Antibiotice Health Care 16 April 1997 0.50% Sphera Franchise Group Consumer Discretionary 9 November 2017 0.50% Cris-Tim Consumer Staples 26 November 2025 0.49%
See also BET-TR BET-XT ROTX Bucharest Stock Exchange Economy of Romania Foreign trade of Romania List of companies of Romania List of stock exchanges List of stock market indices
References
External links Bucharest Stock Exchange Expat Romania BET UCITS ETF on Xetra