The findings are based on the investment preferences of approximately 2,800 Romanian users recorded on the platform over the past year .
Technology and AI companies are proving to be a major draw, with NVIDIA, Taiwan Semiconductor, and Microsoft topping the list of most traded stocks, reflecting a global trend towards these growth leaders. Tesla also remains a popular choice for those invested in green energy and electric vehicles. The crypto wave has significantly influenced investment decisions, with MicroStrategy gaining traction for its indirect exposure to Bitcoin, signaling long-term confidence in digital assets.
Radu-Iulian Pădurean (in photo), Network Development Manager at Freedom24, commented: "Investors in Romania are building a portfolio combining aggressive bets on technology, cryptocurrencies, and niche sectors with defensive assets. ETFs emphasise diversification, yield and geopolitical trends. It is a balanced approach: high-risk assets are balanced by stable assets, reflecting the ambitions of an emerging market integrated into global trends, but taking into account localised risks such as high bond yields and political instability"
Beyond established sectors, Romanian retail investors are also venturing into niche areas such as maritime shipping and biotech, making speculative bets on companies like Castor Maritime and TherapeuticsMD. To counter the inherent risks of these investments, a significant portion of investors are turning to more stable assets. Fixed-income products like EuroBonds and dividend-paying stocks such as AT&T are popular among those seeking stability amidst geopolitical uncertainty and inflation.
ETFs are a cornerstone of many Romanian portfolios, primarily chosen for diversification and broad market exposure. The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (SXR8.EU) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY.US) are among the most popular, offering access to the U.S. market.
Technology and growth-focused ETFs like Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM.US) also remain key areas of interest. Furthermore, rising global tensions have led some investors to allocate funds to defense-sector ETFs such as DFNS.EU.
