Czech inflation slowdown hits crown, market rates fall
PRAGUE, July 10 (Reuters) -The crown fell to a three-month low on Wednesday after a surprise drop in the Czech headline inflation rate sparked bets the central bank could cut interest rates quicker than expected.
The crown's EURCZK= 0.5% drop made it the biggest faller in central Europe, where other currencies were able to gain.
Czech inflation eased to 2.0% year-on-year in June, well below a Reuters poll forecast of 2.5% and central bank expectations.
The Czech National Bank (CNB) has delivered four straight 50 basis-point rate cuts but has signalled a likely slowdown to that tempo at upcoming meetings.
The crown had slipped to 25.397 to the euro by 0819 GMT, hitting a session low of 25.425, its lowest since April. Market rates also fell by between 12 and 15 basis points, although investors are still pricing in a 25 bp cut coming at the bank's August meeting.
"Downward pressure on CNB rates is likely to intensify after today's data," Martin Gurtler, analyst at Komercni Banka, said.
With consensus seeing the main rate at 4%, from the current 4.75%, at the end of the year, he said the chances of it falling below that are growing.
Elsewhere, the Polish zloty EURPLN= continued to march higher after National Bank of Poland governor Adam Glapinski said last week that interest rate cuts would not happen before 2026.
The zloty added 0.25% on Wednesday, to 4.2515 to the euro, approaching its four-year high just past 4.25.
Hungary's forint EURHUF= recovered ground, coming after losses following inflation data there below expectations and announcements of new government tax measures. The forint was 0.45% up at 393.05 per euro.
MHB Bank said markets may be starting to view the measures - including seeking so-called defence fund contributions from banks and other companies - as being "aimed at keeping the budget deficit under control, so investors should be less concerned that the risks surrounding the deficit target are not being addressed by the cabinet."
CEE MARKETS | SNAPSHOT | AT 1019 CET | |||
CURRENCIES | |||||
Latest | Previous | Daily | Change | ||
trade | close | change | in 2024 | ||
Czech crown | EURCZK= | 25.3970 | 25.2690 | -0.50% | -2.74% |
Hungary forint | EURHUF= | 393.0500 | 394.8000 | +0.45% | -2.51% |
Polish zloty | EURPLN= | 4.2515 | 4.2620 | +0.25% | +2.19% |
Romanian leu | EURRON= | 4.9732 | 4.9720 | -0.02% | +0.02% |
Serbian dinar | EURRSD= | 116.9500 | 117.0500 | +0.09% | +0.25% |
Note: daily change | calculated from | 1800 CET | |||
Latest | Previous | Daily | Change | ||
close | change | in 2024 | |||
Prague | .PX | 1574.82 | 1570.2700 | +0.29% | +11.37% |
Budapest | .BUX | 71532.96 | 71169.33 | +0.51% | +18.00% |
Warsaw | .WIG20 | 2539.95 | 2543.85 | -0.15% | +8.41% |
Bucharest | .BETI | 18374.25 | 18334.03 | +0.22% | +19.54% |
Spread | Daily | ||||
vs Bund | change in | ||||
Czech Republic | spread | ||||
2-year | CZ2YT=RR | 3.8260 | -0.0840 | +092bps | -6bps |
5-year | CZ5YT=RR | 3.8470 | -0.0620 | +131bps | -3bps |
10-year | CZ10YT=RR | 4.0160 | -0.0820 | +148bps | -4bps |
Poland | |||||
2-year | PL2YT=RR | 5.2220 | -0.0260 | +232bps | +0bps |
5-year | PL5YT=RR | 5.6190 | -0.0950 | +309bps | -6bps |
10-year | PL10YT=RR | 5.7780 | -0.0290 | +324bps | +2bps |
FORWARD RATE AGREEMENTS | |||||
3x6 | 6x9 | 9x12 | 3M interbank | ||
Czech Rep | CZKFRAPRIBOR= | 4.26 | 4.00 | 3.81 | 4.67 |
Hungary | HUFFRABUBOR= | 6.51 | 6.21 | 5.91 | 6.86 |
Poland | PLNFRAWIBOR= | 5.80 | 5.73 | 5.50 | 5.86 |
Note: FRA quotes | are for ask prices |
Reporting by Jason Hovet in Prague and Boldizsar Gyori in Budapest; Editing by David Holmes
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