Currencies little changed ahead of Romanian central bank decision
WARSAW, Aug 7 (Reuters) -Central European currencies were little changed on Wednesday after a volatile start to the week for global markets as investors awaited an interest rate decision by the Romanian central bank.
A slim majority of analysts surveyed expect the bank to deliver a second consecutive quarter-point interest rate cut on Wednesday, but the scope for further easing was limited ahead of elections later this year.
"From a market perspective, EUR/RON remains in a narrow range of 4.966-4.977 and the central bank meeting won't change that today or later this year," ING Bank, which expects no change in rates, said in a statement.
"The central bank began its latest cutting cycle as the last one in the CEE region in July. In the baseline scenario, we expect a second rate cut in November, the last of the year."
The leu EURRON= traded at 4.9766 per euro at 0824 GMT. The Czech crown EURCZK= was also stable at 25.2650 and the Hungarian forint EURHUF= at 398 per euro.
"The forint weakened moderately against the euro yesterday, starting the day at levels slightly below 398 this morning," MBH Bank said in a note.
"If the improving sentiment were to lead to a smaller Fed rate cut, the Hungarian currency's interest rate advantage could be smaller, which could contribute to a more moderate weakening of the forint."
MBH Bank analysts said Wednesday's slightly better than expected domestic industrial production data had no visible impact on the forint for now.
Hungary's industrial output fell by an annual 8.2% in June based on preliminary unadjusted data, above analyst forecasts for an 8.4% drop, the Central Statistics Office (KSH) said.
The Polish zloty EURPLN= was unchanged on the day at 4.3130 per euro.
"In our opinion, the market, deprived of sources of fundamental volatility, can look for potential moves in technical factors. Even more so in the light of the recent extremely dynamic movements on financial market," Bank Millennium analysts wrote in a note.
"As a result, the EUR/PLN exchange rate, which remains above the level of 4.30, may once again try to approach the barrier of 4.33. Treasury bond yields should also initiate a slight upward movement."
Central European currencies are facing diverse outlooks for the next 12 months, with the Polish zloty and Czech crown posting gains while the forint and the leu are expected to weaken, a Reuters poll found on Wednesday.
The Warsaw stock exchange blue-chip index .WIG20 fell 0.4% while other bourses in the region rose by 0.7%-1.2%.
CEE MARKETS | SNAPSHOT | AT 1024 CET | ||||
CURRENCIES | ||||||
Latest | Previous | Daily | Change | |||
trade | close | change | in 2024 | |||
EURCZK= | Czech crown | EURCZK= | 25.2650 | 25.2750 | +0.04% | -2.23% |
EURHUF= | Hungary forint | EURHUF= | 398.0000 | 398.1000 | +0.03% | -3.72% |
EURPLN= | Polish zloty | EURPLN= | 4.3130 | 4.3115 | -0.03% | +0.73% |
EURRON= | Romanian leu | EURRON= | 4.9766 | 4.9775 | +0.02% | -0.05% |
EURRSD= | Serbian dinar | EURRSD= | 116.9200 | 117.0200 | +0.09% | +0.28% |
Note: daily change | calculated from | 1800 CET | ||||
Latest | Previous | Daily | Change | |||
close | change | in 2024 | ||||
.PX | Prague | .PX | 1549.48 | 1530.6500 | +1.23% | +9.58% |
.BUX | Budapest | .BUX | 70811.57 | 70321.83 | +0.70% | +16.81% |
.WIG20 | Warsaw | .WIG20 | 2228.20 | 2237.76 | -0.43% | -4.90% |
.BETI | Bucharest | .BETI | 18026.65 | 17872.67 | +0.86% | +17.28% |
Spread | Daily | |||||
vs Bund | change in | |||||
Czech Republic | spread | |||||
CZ2YT=RR | 2-year | CZ2YT=RR | 3.4420 | 0.0090 | +100bps | -7bps |
CZ5YT=RR | 5-year | CZ5YT=RR | 3.4540 | 0.0010 | +127bps | -9bps |
CZ10YT=RR | 10-year | CZ10YT=RR | 3.6800 | 0.0290 | +141bps | -6bps |
Poland | ||||||
PL2YT=RR | 2-year | PL2YT=RR | 4.7670 | 0.0530 | +233bps | -3bps |
PL5YT=RR | 5-year | PL5YT=RR | 5.0280 | 0.0400 | +284bps | -5bps |
PL10YT=RR | 10-year | PL10YT=RR | 5.2240 | 0.0830 | +295bps | -1bps |
FORWARD RATE AGREEMENTS | ||||||
3x6 | 6x9 | 9x12 | 3M interbank | |||
Czech Rep | CZKFRAPRIBOR= | 4.00 | 3.56 | 3.20 | 4.43 | |
Hungary | HUFFRABUBOR= | 6.53 | 6.06 | 5.63 | 6.53 | |
Poland | PLNFRAWIBOR= | 5.71 | 5.39 | 4.92 | 5.85 | |
Note: FRA quotes | are for ask prices | |||||
************************************************************** |
Reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw, Boldizsar Gyori in Budapest, Luiza Ilie in Bucharest; Editing by Bernadette Baum
For related news and prices, click on the codes in brackets:
All emerging market news EMRG CEEU CEE/
Spot FX rates
Eastern Europe spot FX EEFX= Middle East spot FX MEFX=
Asia spot FX ASIAFX= Latin America spot FX LATAMFX=
Other news and reports
World central bank news CEN Economic Data Guide ECONGUIDE
Official rates GLOBAL/INT Emerging Diary EMRG/DIARY
Top events M/DIARY Diaries DIARY Diaries Index IND/DIARY
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.